A 17-year-old resident of Nizhny Novgorod was detained in a case involving SIM boxes for fraudsters.

      On May 19, 2026, at 10:22, incidents were reported in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where a criminal case was initiated against a 17-year-old teenager accused of the illegal use of SIM boxes as part of an organized group. This was reported by the regional investigative committee.

      According to the investigation, from December 2025 to May 2026, the teenager, along with unidentified accomplices, facilitated the operation of equipment for mass calls and message distribution. This involves a SIM box and a virtual telephone station that allow for number substitution and making calls on behalf of different subscribers.

      Investigators believe that the equipment was used in a fraudulent scheme to deceive citizens and steal money. For his work, the teenager received a reward. The illegal activities were stopped by employees of the Investigative Committee, FSB, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The teenager has been charged under part 3 of article 274.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. As a preventive measure, he was placed under a non-leaving order and proper behavior.

      Investigators are currently continuing to gather evidence and identify other members of the group. The Investigative Committee reminds that the use of SIM boxes in criminal schemes entails criminal liability. Such devices allow for mass calls and messages through a large number of SIM cards, concealing the real numbers of the perpetrators. The agency also urged teenagers not to agree to offers of "easy earnings" and to adhere to information security rules.

      Earlier, it was reported that a 19-year-old SIM box operator was caught in the Volga capital. Prior to that, two other teenagers who assisted the fraudsters were detained. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.