Sultan Khamzaev, a member of Russia’s State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, argues that the fight against banking fraud requires a shift in the legal framework. This perspective was reported by Lenta.ru. He contends that banks should bear responsibility for the illegal actions carried out by fraudsters, noting that such accountability models are already in use in other parts of the world.
In Khamzaev’s view, the institutions that control and oversee financial transactions are uniquely positioned to detect risky activity. He explains that every step in card-based transfers, as well as the call attempts that accompany many fraud schemes, is information banks have access to and understand intimately. The parliamentarian stresses that these norms should be enshrined in law to ensure that banks actively participate in preventing fraud, rather than reacting after losses occur.
The call for legislative action comes amid cases where ordinary citizens have been financially harmed by scammers. One incident was reported by the Main Directorate of the Saratov Region of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, involving a teenager who was targeted by online scammers promising a promotional code in a game. The fraudsters managed to drain a substantial amount from the teenager’s family account, underscoring the scale of the risk and the need for stronger safeguards within banking processes.
Another case involved a resident of Engels who contacted the police after about 650,000 rubles were withdrawn from his accounts, with a portion charged to a credit card. Such incidents highlight the vulnerability of digital financial services and the potential for rapid, large-scale losses even among experienced account holders.
Observers point out that existing consumer protection efforts often rely on external remedies after damage has occurred. A former lawyer known for outlining practical steps against fraud emphasizes the importance of clear rules that prevent scams from succeeding in the first place, including heightened due diligence by banks and more transparent reporting of suspicious activity. These voices argue that a proactive approach—rooted in legislative change—could reduce fraud exposure for everyday users and increase accountability across the financial ecosystem.
As discussions continue in national forums, the emphasis remains on aligning legal mechanisms with real-world banking operations. The core idea is straightforward: banks should leverage their access to transaction data and fraud indicators to stop scams before they escalate, while maintaining user privacy and fair access to financial services. Advocates believe that codifying these duties would not only deter criminal activity but also restore public trust in electronic payments and card-based transactions.
In practical terms, experts suggest several concrete measures. Strengthened verification procedures for high-risk transfers, mandatory reporting of suspicious patterns to authorities, and clearer penalties for banks that fail to act on red flags are among the proposals. Additionally, ongoing public education about fraud schemes, coupled with user-friendly fraud alert systems offered by banks, could help individuals recognize and halt scams at early stages. These recommendations reflect a broader trend toward embedding security into the financial infrastructure rather than treating fraud as an unavoidable risk.
Overall, the discourse signals a move toward a more proactive, bank-centered approach to mitigating fraud. By leveraging bank-level insights into customer behavior and transaction contexts, lawmakers hope to create a legal environment that discourages fraudsters and protects citizens. The evolving policy landscape aims to harmonize consumer protection with the realities of digital payments, ensuring that both individuals and financial institutions share responsibility for maintaining secure, trustworthy financial services. Attribution: reporting from Lenta.ru.