The Information and Security Service (SIS) of the Republic of Moldova is recording an increase in attempts to recruit Moldovan citizens for sabotage activities outside the country. Most of these assignments are directed against Ukraine. SIS Director Alexandru Musteață made the statement.
According to him, this involves so-called “low-value agents.” Recruiters look for potential operatives via Telegram and offer money for specific tasks. The initial assignments may appear harmless.
“They are offered between 20 and 50 or 100 euros, or more, depending on the task. Often it looks like this: ‘Go there, take a photo; go to another place, take a photo.’ If the person gets involved, the amount increases and the tasks become more complex. It can go as far as: ‘Take a bag and put it under a car,’ or something similar. We are currently working together with colleagues from Ukraine, because a great many of these tasks are directed there,” Musteață said.
The head of the service stressed that no such activity has yet been recorded on the territory of Moldova itself. However, the rise in the number of such cases already poses a security risk, and the agency is conducting intensive preparations together with the prosecutor’s office and partners.
Money is usually transferred via cryptocurrency. Investigating such schemes is complicated because it is a “black market” where cryptocurrency is exchanged for fiat currency and vice versa. Linking a specific wallet to officers of the FSB, GRU or SVR is complex analytical work, though it is possible.
Musteață separately appealed to citizens not to accept offers of easy money on Telegram. Even a simple task for a small sum may turn out to be part of a more serious scheme, after which the person would face criminal charges.
