Zelenskyy submits laws against fraudulent call centers and "drops" to the Rada
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent two draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada that are intended to tighten liability for operating fraudulent call centers and using bank accounts and cards in criminal schemes. Separate measures will target the organizers of such centers and the so-called "drops."
According to Zelenskyy, the first draft law concerns liability for fraudulent call centers. The president emphasized that punishment should apply not only to operators who directly communicate with potential victims, but above all to the organizers, owners of such structures, and people who profit from them.
The specific articles of the Criminal Code, the amounts of fines, and prison terms provided for in the submitted documents were not disclosed by Zelenskyy in his message.
Responsibility for bank card schemes to be strengthened separately
The second block of changes relates to the use of bank accounts and payment instruments in illegal schemes. In particular, it concerns the so-called "drops"—people who hand over their cards, accounts, electronic wallets, or access to online banking to other persons, after which these tools are used to transfer and withdraw money.
Zelenskyy stated that the legislation should create a basis for prosecuting specifically the organizers of such schemes. At the same time, the changes should give banks additional capabilities to protect clients and businesses and make it more difficult to use accounts for tax evasion and laundering of proceeds obtained illegally.
The president also reported that changes will be required at the level of internal regulation of the banking system. In particular, algorithms used by banks to identify suspicious transactions and respond to the use of accounts in illegal schemes will have to be adjusted.
In addition, one of the submitted draft laws provides for the implementation of European Union legislation. According to Zelenskyy, the adoption of the relevant norms is stipulated by Ukraine's agreements with international partners. The president urged the Verkhovna Rada to consider both documents without delay.
A separate criminal article was previously proposed for "drops"
The strengthening of responsibility has been in preparation in Ukraine in recent months. In particular, the Cyber Police developed a draft amendment to the Criminal Code with a new Article 200-1, which should separately qualify the transfer of bank accounts and payment instruments for use in criminal schemes. The draft also separates the responsibility of ordinary "drops," recruiters, and organizers of networks.
In the version discussed in the summer, a person who knowingly transferred their card, account, electronic wallet, or access to them for illegal use was proposed to be fined from 300 to 1000 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens. For people who organize the opening or purchase of other people's accounts, a fine from 1000 to 3000 minimums or restriction of liberty for a term of up to two years was envisaged.
For repeated violation or actions by a group by prior conspiracy, the draft provided for up to three years of restriction or imprisonment, and for an organized group—from three to six years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. At the same time, a key condition for the liability of an ordinary account holder would have to be proof that they knowingly transferred the payment instrument for illegal activity.
Zelenskyy has not yet clarified whether these provisions were fully included in the draft law he sent to parliament, so the specific sanctions of the final presidential initiative will become clear after the publication of the document's text.
A draft law on the "register of drops" is already in the Rada
Separately, since October 2025, draft law No. 14161 on the creation of a special register of persons whose payment operations require enhanced control has been pending in the Verkhovna Rada. It is expected that the National Bank will maintain such a register, and banks and other payment service providers will submit information about detected "drops" to it.
For clients included in the register, it is proposed to impose restrictions on payment operations and the number of accounts or cards determined by the NBU. The initiators of the draft previously estimated the volume of funds passing through the accounts of "drops" at approximately UAH 200 billion per year.
Police shut down 94 fraudulent call centers in August
Legislative changes are being prepared against the backdrop of a large-scale campaign by law enforcement against telephone and payment fraud. In August, the National Police reported 411 searches and the shutdown of 94 fraudulent call centers in different regions of Ukraine. Law enforcement officers discovered 1,794 equipped workstations and notified 26 individuals of suspicion.
During this operation, the police also discovered more than 3,300 units of computer equipment, over 5,200 SIM cards, and dozens of bank accounts, cards, and cryptocurrency wallets used to move funds. The investigation also identified individuals who acted as "drops." Depending on the role of the persons involved, their actions were qualified as fraud and legalization of property obtained by criminal means, with a maximum punishment of up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Based on materials: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, National Police of Ukraine, EMA Association
