UDC 336.02

Kovtun O.I.¹ (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation) – kovtuolga@yandex.ru; Kozhevnikova G.F.¹ (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation) – gaiakozevnikova78@gmail.com

¹Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management

Abstract. In the Siberian Federal District we face with a hidden social catastrophe: schoolchildren and students are becoming complicit in serious financial crimes en masse, sincerely believing they are engaged in harmless “freelancing.” They are known as “drops”—shadow couriers through whose accounts criminal syndicates launder stolen money. A disturbing trend in recent years is the rapidly declining age of the population: increasingly, those involved are young people aged 14 to 17, when teenagers receive passports and the right to open their own accounts. This study reveals the anatomy of this criminal exploitation. Based on an analysis of judicial practice and a sociological survey of youth in the Siberian Federal District, the reasons for youth complicity in financial crimes are demonstrated. Key determinants include regional unemployment and acute economic vulnerability, where the offer of “easy money” is perceived as an opportunity for additional income and social fulfillment, which are crucial for teenagers. Most respondents are unaware of the criminal danger of sharing payment details, and recruitment occurs through aggressive targeting on Telegram and VK under the guise of “payment system testing” and other employment opportunities in the promising banking sector. The psychological profile of youth victims includes social isolation, a desire for peer approval, and a lack of adult mentors. Teenagers sincerely believe they are helping friends or participating in legitimate business processes, making traditional police approaches to youth outreach ineffective. Without realizing it, young people become cogs in the fraudulent machine. Since anonymous organizers remain in the shadows, it is the droppers who bear severe responsibility as co-perpetrators under articles of the Russian Criminal Code. The evolution of shadow businesses has led to the creation of “card farms” to bypass bank controls, and drop accounts are increasingly being used for criminal purposes – cybercrime (phishing, identity theft, malware, and hacking), including for terrorist financing. The problem has expanded beyond the criminal realm, becoming a threat to national security. This article proposes a revolutionary paradigm shift: from belated, punitive law enforcement to a proactive model of “protection through inclusion.” The author presents a multi-layered prevention system that requires synergy between education, the banking sector, and law enforcement. Key initiatives include the introduction of mandatory practical digital security courses, the creation of interdepartmental youth protection centers, legislative enforcement of IT platforms to remove criminal advertising, and mandatory video verification for account openings by individuals under 22. Particular attention is paid to fostering a culture of digital hygiene, where students become active agents in their own security. This study is intended for criminologists, economists, educators, and government officials. This article presents specific recommendations for preventing and combating youth involvement in financial crimes as elements of a roadmap for saving the social potential of an entire generation of youth from the digital trap.

Keywords: drop accounts, droppering, illegal use of payment instruments, financial crimes, youth, Siberian Federal District, legal literacy, cybercrime.

Acknowledgments: this article was published as part of the “Intellectual Exchange: The University’s Third Mission” project of the Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management.

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For citation: Kovtun, O. I., & Kozhevnikova, G. F. (2026). Identification and analysis of the reasons why young people risk becoming accomplices in financial crimes (“Money mules”) CITISE, 3, 634-656.  (In Russian).