Blacklist for Droppers: Central Bank to Launch Digital Platform for Combating Fraud
In Russia, following the Central Bank's requirement to provide a tax identification number (INN) for accessing banking products, fraudulent transfers have significantly decreased. In the near future, the number of accounts used for these fraudulent activities will also be minimized.
“AntiDrop” – A Protection Platform
The Central Bank is preparing to launch a new digital infrastructure—the “AntiDrop” platform. The concept of the platform will be unveiled by July of this year, with full implementation expected by mid-2027. This initiative will shift from reactive fraud prevention to proactive prevention. Banks will be able to instantly identify individuals involved in fraudulent schemes.
The system will use INNs for client identification. Russians automatically receive this number at birth, meaning it is assigned to every citizen and, unlike a passport, remains unchanged throughout their life. If a foreigner without an INN approaches a bank, the information will be sent to the tax office, and a unique number will be assigned to them immediately. If this number appears in an illegal scheme, the individual will receive a 'black mark,' which will be visible to all banks.
Droppers as a Systemic Threat
According to the Central Bank, as of December 2025, there are 307 active banks in Russia. A natural person can open an account in almost any of them. This loophole is exploited by financial fraudsters, who attract droppers—people who provide their accounts or cards for withdrawing stolen funds.
As of September 2025, the Central Bank was identifying approximately 100,000 such accounts each month, with a third of them belonging to non-citizens. While one bank would block a suspicious account upon detecting fraudulent activity, droppers would open accounts in dozens of other banks. This vulnerability arose due to the lack of a unified data exchange platform, which undermined trust in the digital financial ecosystem.
Existing Prototype
The “AntiDrop” platform is designed to address this problem. A unified registry, containing all individuals previously involved in illegal schemes, will be integrated with the banking sector. When attempting to open a new account or card at any bank, the system will automatically check the client's INN. If the individual has a 'black mark,' the system will apply restrictions, such as lowering limits or blocking transfers, rendering the account useless for fraudsters.
Russia already has a prototype of “AntiDrop” – the “Znaj Svoego Klienta” (Know Your Client) platform for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, which has been operational since 2022. This platform became a tool to combat money laundering, reducing the number of 'one-day' companies and tax evasion schemes. Banks receive risk assessments for corporate clients from the regulator based on this platform.
INN as a Digital Anchor
The launch of 'AntiDrop' is not only significant for protecting citizens' financial assets but also for the overall development of the digital economy. The sustainable growth of online payments, e-commerce, and digital financial tools can only happen in an environment where users are confident in the security of their funds. Reducing the number of successful fraudulent attacks will increase trust in digital services, lower banks' costs for fraud monitoring, and reduce interest rates due to improved efficiency.
For the state, the platform means enhanced control over financial flows.
In the future, 'AntiDrop' could become part of a broader digital identity ecosystem, integrating finance, government services, healthcare, and education. INN could become a universal 'digital key,' providing both security and convenience.
