An organization has been created in the Ministry of Interior to ensure police presence in places where large sums of money from levs to euros will be exchanged, Deputy Minister of Interior Filip Popov announced at an information meeting on the introduction of the euro in Montana.
Deputy Minister Popov indicated that such a presence will also be present in small settlements where there are post offices and currency is exchanged. Currently, the Ministry of Interior has developed a plan to prevent risks related to cash theft, fraud and assaults when exchanging levs for euros. This plan includes a set of activities aimed at preventing, detecting and disrupting criminal activity surrounding the introduction of the euro.
According to the plan, monthly events and awareness campaigns are held among vulnerable groups of the population, focusing on recognizing the security features of euro banknotes and raising awareness of the possible dangers when exchanging Bulgarian banknotes for euros.
By mid-September, 1,840 awareness campaigns and meetings in settlements and 976 working meetings with employees at post offices and banking institutions had been held. Over 30 teams of investigative police officers and economic police have been formed in the Ministry of Interior, which will process the signals and, if necessary, strengthen security measures.
Interaction with local authorities has been strengthened to counter conventional crime. For these purposes, 3672 meetings were held with regional governors, mayors and deputy mayors in small and large settlements of the country. An organization has been created to provide mass events and spontaneous and organized demonstrations for and against the introduction of the euro. So far, 67 such events have been provided, Deputy Minister Popov said, quoted by BTA.
According to the adopted plan, the Ministry of Interior is monitoring and supervising the Internet, including social networks and the so-called dark web. 30 sites and 20 pages on social networks are being monitored, where it is possible to spread disinformation and trade in euro banknotes. Since the beginning of this year, 154 pre-trial proceedings have been initiated for hacker attacks and financial fraud on the Internet, Deputy Minister Filip Popov said.
Citizens and administration employees attending the meeting asked questions related to possible financial fraud of elderly people after the adoption of the euro and about a possible increase in prices. Deputy Minister Popov replied that the Ministry of Interior will do everything possible to prevent any fraud and that is why it is undertaking such a broad explanatory campaign, and an unjustified increase in prices will not be allowed, since the Law on the Adoption of the Euro provides for heavy financial sanctions for traders who allow themselves to make such an increase.