Taxi Hacker Gang Neutralized in St. Petersburg

Three fraudsters suspected of stealing money from bank accounts have been detained in St. Petersburg. According to the press service of the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs, at least 40 people have fallen victim to the hackers’ actions.

Using malicious software purchased on the dark web, the hackers broke into users’ taxi service accounts and gained access to the bank accounts linked to those profiles. The stolen funds were then transferred to so-called “drops”—fake individuals who registered as taxi drivers specifically for this purpose.

So far, police have identified 13 such “drops.” These individuals were in need of money and led antisocial lifestyles. It is noted that they were unaware of the criminals’ schemes; they simply received 5,000 rubles for each completed transaction.

As a result, investigators in the Nevsky District have opened three criminal cases under Part 3, Article 158 of the Russian Criminal Code (theft). During searches, law enforcement officers seized about 60 SIM cards, 14 smartphones, laptops, and other evidence of the group’s criminal activity. Two of the detainees remain in custody, while one has been released on the condition not to leave the city.