On 2 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted two draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada aimed at combating fraudulent call centres and the unlawful use of bank accounts and payment instruments. The Head of State announced the legislative initiatives, and the information was also published by the Ministry of the Interior.
- Zelenskyy has submitted two bills to the Rada.
- There are calls to increase the penalties for the organisers and staff of fraudulent call centres.
- Separately, efforts to combat «drop» schemes are being stepped up.
- Banks should be given greater powers to block illegal financial schemes.
- The President is asking the Rada to consider the draft laws without delay.
It is not only the owners of call centres who are to be punished
The first bill concerns liability for organising and participating in the operations of fraudulent call centres.
According to Zelensky, liability should extend not only to those directly involved in the offences, but also to those who set up such organisations, control them and profit from fraudulent schemes.
The President stated that the penalties for fraudulent activities call centres must be «clear and strict».
This specifically concerns legislative changes — for the relevant provisions to come into force, they must still be debated and voted on in the Verkhovna Rada.
What will change for «drops»?»
The second bill concerns fraudulent schemes involving bank accounts and payment instruments, in particular the so-called «drops».
«The term »dummy accounts’ is usually used to refer to people whose bank cards or accounts are used to receive, transfer or withdraw money as part of illegal schemes. Such accounts often make it possible to conceal the true organisers of the transactions.
According to Zelenskyy, the changes are intended to create a legislative framework for combating the organisers of such schemes. The banking system must also amend its internal algorithms to make it more difficult to use accounts for tax evasion or the laundering of illegally obtained funds.
Banks will be given additional tools
It is expected that the new measures will give banks greater scope to protect customers and businesses from unauthorised account transactions.
Zelenskyy also emphasised that one of the draft laws relates to the transposition of European Union law into Ukrainian legislation, in accordance with agreements reached with international partners.
The President called on Members of Parliament to consider both legislative proposals without delay.
