A criminal group of Armenian and Russian citizens stole 85 million drams from clients account of Australian banks with the help of computer technology from August to December 2016.
On March 20, the national security Service of Armenia neutralized the criminal group.
"As a result of an extensive investigation and intelligence tracking measures the facts of grand larceny committed by citizens of Armenia and Russia with use the computer equipment were exposed. These measures were done in the framework of the criminal case which is investigating by Department of the national security Service of Armenia " — said the press service of NSC.
According to preliminary data, the members of the group were registered in Armenia 3 trade organization under the trumped-up pretext for the implementation of hotel and restaurant activities. Then they acquired a cash register with a terminal, allowing them to carry out the non-cash transaction by entering card data without any cardholder and the bank card details.
It clarifies that the purpose of theft in a large scale by using the said cash register with the terminal member of the criminal group, which is in Russia, sent accomplices of the Armenian banking cards data is issued in the name of a number of Australian citizens - 16-digit numbers, information on the period of validity cards and passwords.
The group members from Armenia placed SIM card in the cash register with terminal and the Russian members sent data of clients in Australians bank cards: 16-digit number, information about expiring cards and passwords to members from Armenia.
"Thus, from August to December 2016 the members of the criminal group stolen about 85 million drams ($177 thousand) from the account numbers of Australian banks customers. As a result of extensive investigation and intelligence tracking measures carried out by national security Council of Armenia, the criminal group identified and neutralized", — told in the message of the NSC of Armenia.
The investigation is still going on. However, five persons have been charged, while three of them were arrested.
On March 20, the national security Service of Armenia neutralized the criminal group.
"As a result of an extensive investigation and intelligence tracking measures the facts of grand larceny committed by citizens of Armenia and Russia with use the computer equipment were exposed. These measures were done in the framework of the criminal case which is investigating by Department of the national security Service of Armenia " — said the press service of NSC.
According to preliminary data, the members of the group were registered in Armenia 3 trade organization under the trumped-up pretext for the implementation of hotel and restaurant activities. Then they acquired a cash register with a terminal, allowing them to carry out the non-cash transaction by entering card data without any cardholder and the bank card details.
It clarifies that the purpose of theft in a large scale by using the said cash register with the terminal member of the criminal group, which is in Russia, sent accomplices of the Armenian banking cards data is issued in the name of a number of Australian citizens - 16-digit numbers, information on the period of validity cards and passwords.
The group members from Armenia placed SIM card in the cash register with terminal and the Russian members sent data of clients in Australians bank cards: 16-digit number, information about expiring cards and passwords to members from Armenia.
"Thus, from August to December 2016 the members of the criminal group stolen about 85 million drams ($177 thousand) from the account numbers of Australian banks customers. As a result of extensive investigation and intelligence tracking measures carried out by national security Council of Armenia, the criminal group identified and neutralized", — told in the message of the NSC of Armenia.
The investigation is still going on. However, five persons have been charged, while three of them were arrested.