Methods of Fraud Using Electronic Payment Systems

The forms and methods of theft are improving along with the development of crime. Electronic means of payment such as credit cards, e-wallets, bank accounts and others are becoming their subject. In this category, the first place among thefts belongs to fraud. Electronic payment fraud has become so widespread that it is time for financial institutions to take action. Today, there is no one hundred percent guarantee that cardholders or wallets will not become victims of fraud by criminals. With the introduction of new security mechanisms, fraudsters are adapting to new conditions, while developing effective methods of deception. The specificity of the criminal law norm on fraud with the use of electronic means of payment predetermines the need to establish a method of committing a crime as the main sign of a crime. The purpose of writing a research paper is a criminal legal analysis of ways to commit fraud using electronic payment systems. The author draws a conclusion about the high practical importance of the method of committing fraud using electronic means of payment for the development of effective means, techniques and methods of their disclosure and investigation. When studying fraud with the use of electronic payment systems, the author comes to the conclusion about the variety of ways to commit this type of crime. Of course, law enforcement officers, together with the competent authorities, are constantly fighting against fraudsters. But for more effective work, citizens need to be vigilant, as well as follow a number of recommendations. At the same time, it must be remembered that the methods of deception are expanding, so it is important to pay attention to suspicious nuances when carrying out settlement actions. There are problems of delimiting this composition from adjacent ones, which complicates its qualification, as well as law enforcement practice. They are also caused by the fact that since 2018 the scope of Article 159.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation has been expanded with the concept of «electronic means of payment». In addition, often, the commission of such crimes is associated with preliminary actions of a technical nature, which are difficult to recognize as criminal. The legislator's attempt to keep pace with the criminalization of electronic means of payment is obvious, but it seems advisable to clarify Article 159.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, or to supplement Articles 158 and 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with appropriate norms.

criminal legislation of the Russian Federation, fraud using electronic means of payment, crimes against property, law enforcement practice, related structures