Banks Introduce Drop Monitoring Systems to Combat Fraudsters, Reduce Number of Droppers by Half

Major banks are implementing drop monitoring systems to combat so-called droppers — individuals whose cards are used by fraudsters to withdraw money stolen from bank clients. In particular, Tinkoff Bank officially launched such a system after a year of testing, a representative of the credit organization told RBC. Similar models are also in place at VTB and Sberbank. Droppers are bank clients who apply for cards not for personal use, but to pass them on to fraudsters. Criminals then use these cards to withdraw money stolen from bank clients. One can become a dropper willingly or unknowingly. For example, there are «job postings» online offering easy monthly earnings just for providing a bank card number.

As banks fight droppers, Oleg Zamiralov, head of Tinkoff’s Ecosystem Protection Center, explained that the bank’s system allows for the identification of droppers among clients even before they receive money obtained through criminal means. From April 2023 to April 2024, as a result of testing the system, the bank managed to reduce the number of droppers by half, with around 130,000 dropper accounts being blocked. Half of these (66,000) belonged to teenagers under 18. «Fraudsters are increasingly recruiting young people as droppers — it’s easy and quick money, and young people don’t always understand the consequences of actions like selling cards that are later used to commit crimes», - Zamiralov explained. Tinkoff’s drop monitoring system was created based on the analysis of millions of client transactions, including those who used their cards solely for dishonest purposes. The bank created a «dropper profile» — indicators that suggest a high likelihood that a client applied for a card to sell or pass it on to fraudsters. The bank checks for matches with these indicators and, if necessary, takes action.



The fight against droppers is ongoing as banks continue to develop and implement new technologies and strategies to protect their clients from financial fraud. With the rise of digital banking and online transactions, the need for robust security measures has become increasingly important. By monitoring and analyzing customer behavior and transactions, banks can detect and prevent fraudulent activities, ultimately safeguarding the financial interests of their clients. As the threat of financial fraud evolves, banks must remain vigilant and proactive in their efforts to combat droppers and other forms of financial crime.