The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia is investigating a criminal case of large-scale fraud, committed using the “Pushkin cards”. On this subject reported on the SCR website.
The defendants in the case are residents of the Moscow region Viktor Yakubov, Emil Gurbanov and Ilya Safonov. The investigation estimates that in 2022 they used fictitious Pushkin cards issued by Post Bank to steal more than 200 million rubles.
The ICR said the suspects deceived employees of the bank and the Russian Ministry of Culture “by arranging a massive purchase of tickets without the aim of properly organizing relevant cultural events”.
At the request of the investigators in charge of the case, the assets of Yakubov, Gurbanov and Safonov, estimated in total at more than 100 million rubles, were arrested, and the men themselves are in custody.
Pushkin Card is a program aimed at increasing the accessibility of cultural events for Russians between the ages of 14 and 22. By registering on the Gosuslugi website in the special Culture section, they can apply for a virtual or plastic Mir card, on which 5,000 rubles are credited to the budget. Of this amount, 2,000 rubles can be spent on cinema tickets, the rest – on visits to museums, theaters, exhibitions and concerts. Information about events that can be visited using the Pushkin card is published on the Kultura.RF portal and the State Services Culture application, as well as on the websites of cultural institutions.
About the fraud with “Pushkin cards” and the March 9 tourist cashback program informed Head of Rosfinmonitoring Yury Chikhanchin to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Explaining the essence of the fraudulent scheme created to steal funds, the official said the criminal group “compiled imaginary lists of people who should have received benefits, but they (the people) were not (in do)”. “Dead souls,” Putin commented.
“These people have been arrested, assets have been seized. The work is carried out jointly with the FSB. Pretty much the same situation was with tourist cashback,” Chikhanchin added. The head of state replied with the words “Whatever you do, scammers are appearing everywhere”.
The Ministry of Culture assured RTVI that together with the FKU Tsifrovaya Kultura subordinate to it, they constantly monitor the Internet for fraudulent sites, audiences, groups, accounts and advertisements that offer money collection services from the Pushkin card.
“Specialists from the Ministry of Culture of Russia reported the identified cases to Roskomnadzor in order to block this content. Additionally, specialists contact community administrators and interact closely with the social media administrations themselves,” the department said.
The ministry also says it systematically identifies private organizations that withdraw money from Pushkin cards under the guise of selling tickets to events.
“A list of risk factors has been defined, the analysis of which makes it possible to identify the suspicious activities of the participants. If signs of illegal ticket sales are found, all necessary measures are taken, participants are blocked, ”says the Ministry of Culture.
The agency said that in August 2022, it provided the Russian Interior Ministry with data on the alleged fraud of more than 30 participants in the Pushkin Card program, and based on this information, criminal charges were brought. engaged in Moscow, Samara and other Russian cities. , the Ministry of Culture being considered as an injured party.
In September 2022, as reported in the department, almost all private organizations working with the Pushkin card underwent an additional examination, which was carried out by specialists from the Ministry of Culture itself, the Ministry of Digital Development and Post Bank. In addition, the Ministry of Culture is developing an initiative to introduce electronic certification of program participants.
