Up to 12 years in prison for working in ’call centres’: amendments to Criminal Code have come into force. VIDEO
Amendments to the Criminal Code have come into force in Ukraine, providing for criminal liability for the establishment and operation of fraudulent call centres, participation in them, facilitating their operations and recruiting new participants. These are referred to as ‘call centres’.
This was reported by the Cyber Police, according to Censor.NET.
Details
"In particular, participation in the activities of a fraudulent call centre by a person who was aware of its unlawful nature is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years, with the possibility of confiscation of property.
Furthermore, those who knowingly facilitate the operation of such an ‘office’ – in particular, by providing fraudulent groups with resources, services, information or other assistance for their activities – will also face legal consequences. For such actions, offenders face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property," law enforcement officials explained.
This may also apply to the deliberate letting of premises or equipment, or the provision of communications or other services necessary for the operation of the ‘office’ infrastructure. In each case, the specific role of the individual and their awareness of the unlawful nature of the group’s activities are taken into account.
Liability
Those found guilty of deliberately recruiting new people to work in a fraudulent call centre or of aiding and abetting such activities face up to 5 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
For public officials who use their official position to commit such acts, the law provides for an even harsher punishment – up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
"At the same time, the law provides for the possibility of exemption from criminal liability for individual participants and persons who facilitated the activities of such a group but did not establish or lead it. To qualify, they must voluntarily inform the law enforcement authorities of the group’s establishment or activities before being served with a notice of suspicion and actively assist in its exposure.
So if you know that a particular organisation is in fact a fraudulent call centre, you should not assist its operations, even if you yourself are not directly involved in fraud. After all, knowingly aiding the activities of such an ‘office’ may now also have legal consequences," the Cyber Police added.
Law enforcement officers have urged members of the public to report such ‘offices’, their organisers or anyone facilitating their operations.
