Do Not Share Your Passwords and Personal Information with Strangers on Social Media to Avoid Falling into Traps: Statement

In Armenia, significant crimes related to the use of social networks and information technologies have been committed, with over 40 individuals falling victim to these offenses. This information was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the preliminary investigation of the criminal case examined by the Main Investigation Department of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee has been completed.

The investigation conducted under prosecutorial supervision revealed that from March 15 to May 9, 2020, V.K. created "I Drum" electronic wallets using mobile phone numbers registered in his and other individuals' names. He then identified accounts filled out in the names of 40 individuals, granting them "Premium Plus" status. Utilizing these accounts, he registered a total of 41 credit agreements of the "Rocket" type online at a bank and embezzled substantial amounts of money—around 25.4 million AMD—that were deposited into the electronic wallets.

This money he transferred to his gaming accounts on three different betting companies' websites. Additionally, from January 4 to May 10, 2021, he deceived people and embezzled funds through various accounts created under different names on Facebook.

Having access to numerous individuals' electronic wallet details, he altered the associated mobile phone numbers and linked them to his own registered phone numbers. In this case, he also registered loans online via the electronic wallets and embezzled a substantial total of 13.5 million AMD through computer assistance, which he subsequently transferred to his gaming accounts registered on betting websites.

In July 2020, the same individual sent messages from a page named "Social Security Employee" on the social network "ok.ru" to another citizen registered on the same site, using the pretext of providing assistance under the "Covid-19" pandemic support program to embezzle a significant amount of money from the individual's "Telcell wallet" electronic wallet.

Based on the evidence gathered, on December 22, 2021, V.K. was formally charged under several provisions of the Criminal Code of Armenia: Article 181 (Theft committed with the use of computer technology), parts 1 (three episodes), 2 (two episodes), and 3 (two episodes), as well as Article 325 (Forgery of documents, seals, stamps, forms, and license plates; their sale or use) (32 episodes).

As a measure of restraint, detention was applied to him. On January 4, 2022, the prosecutor confirmed the indictment and sent the criminal case to the first instance court of general jurisdiction in Yerevan.

The Prosecutor's Office of Armenia urges citizens to refrain from accepting offers to provide passwords, phone numbers, passport numbers, and other personal details to strangers on online platforms.