Lugovoy contradicts Volodin? The problem with the growing number of droppers in Russia is catastrophic

There is a catastrophe in Russia with an increase in the number of citizens who receive income for transferring their bank cards and accounts (they are called droppers) to fraudsters. This was stated by Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, deputy head of the LDPR faction Andrei Lugovoy. His assessment was made against the background of the efforts of the chairman of the lower house of parliament Vyacheslav Volodin to take criminal responsibility for droppery.

On July 5, 2025, Federal Law No. 176-FZ of 06/24/2025 came into force, which introduced criminal liability for the intentional transfer of bank cards and accounts to fraudsters for selfish reasons, Volodin repeatedly pointed out, emphasizing the importance of this initiative.

"According to my data, more than 2 million people [are involved in dropping in the territory of the Russian Federation]. Moreover, I will say. The catastrophic problem is that the number of drops does not decrease. I am doubtful about the statements that the number of drops has decreased," said deputy Lugovoy in an interview with TASS.

According to him, 30% of the total number of drops are citizens of neighboring countries, especially from Central Asia.

"There are, as they say, airplane tours — people arrive, open bank accounts, transfer their bank cards and fly away," the deputy added.

Lugovoi clarified that mostly ordinary people who are trying to make money "beyond common sense" become drops. They can be unemployed, students, and ordinary workers. He stressed that drops are primarily a "criminal tool" in the hands of organizers of illegal business, terrorists, extremists, drug traffickers, as well as those involved in financing foreign agents who provide illegal crypto operations.

"As a technological enemy, he is constantly changing his algorithms of action in order to get away from the restrictions created by the state and the banking system as a whole," the parliamentarian added.

Therefore, Lugovoy is sure that only an integrated approach with the participation of legislative and executive authorities, law enforcement agencies, Rosfinmonitoring and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation will help in the fight against drops.

"While we were talking, several million rubles have already passed through the criminal system of drops, some of them for drugs, some of them were stolen from another grandmother, and some for financing the activities of foreign agents or other illegal activities," the deputy concluded.

EADaily adds: Vyacheslav Volodin has repeatedly stressed that droppery in the Russian Federation is punishable by up to 3 years in prison. Criminals using other people's cards and accounts to cash out stolen funds face up to 6 years in prison, the chairman of the State Duma pointed out. In July, he urged Russians to think before going to droppery. In October, Volodin said that an initiative was being discussed to limit the number of bank cards per person, explaining this by fighting fraudsters.