Preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding initiated with regard to embezzlement of 38 million AMD through 97 counts was completed with respect to one person in the Department for Investigation of Cybercrime and High Technology Crime of General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee.  

Particularly, during the period from May 17, 2022, to May 10, 2024, A. Z., as a member of a criminal organization and with the intent to commit computer-related thefts, contacted individuals who had posted advertisements for the provision of services on the “List.am” online marketplace via the “WhatsApp” application, presented himself as a buyer or a customer ordering services, and offered victims residing in the Republic of Armenia the option of making advance payments by transferring the money online and receiving the goods through delivery. 

Subsequently, A. Z. sent sellers of goods and service providers fraudulent electronic links containing identical content, with the aim of obtaining the front and back details of the bank cards required to complete the transactions. After obtaining and using those details, he unlawfully accessed computer data, without authorization provided for by law, contract, or any other legitimate basis, and stole a particularly large amount of money - 38 million 614 thousand 880  AMD from the bank cards of 97 different individuals. 

In addition, A. Z., together with other members of the criminal organization, with the aim of concealing and disguising the criminal origin of the funds obtained and avoiding liability for the crimes they had committed, transferred the proceeds to various destinations during the same period. In particular, in order to conceal the true origin of the funds, he converted them into crypto currency by transferring them to electronic wallets registered in the names of various individuals associated with the company and actually used by those individuals. He subsequently possessed, stored, used, and disposed of those funds.

By the supervising prosecutor’s decision, public criminal prosecution was initiated against A.Z. for participating in the criminal organization, committing computer-related theft and money laundering (97 counts). He was detained.

The criminal proceeding with the bill of indictment was referred to the supervising prosecutor.