Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Purchasing messaging accounts, fake calls about replacing intercom codes, offers of guaranteed profits from trading—scams continue to evolve, but they still share the same basic signs that make them recognizable. Fraudsters use proven strategies, adapting them to new conditions.
They collect public information about a person, establish trusting relationships, create a plausible image of a government employee, impersonate friends or colleagues, and use databases of unused numbers that previous owners forgot to deactivate.
Project experts Call me back yourself They talked about new types of fraud that have been actively used recently.
"It's impossible to create a single tool that will provide 100 percent protection against all attackers. But knowing and following cybersecurity rules, as well as being vigilant, will help you recognize fraud early and protect your personal and payment information. As part of the "Call Back Yourself" project, we host in-person and online events where industry experts use real-life examples to analyze fraudulent tactics and deception scenarios. The lectures focus on the signs that will help you recognize a scammer, provide simple practical advice on protecting yourself and your loved ones, and share reliable tools and proven apps for additional protection. Recordings of our events have already been viewed over 1.8 million times, confirming the popularity of the format and the relevance of the project," said Valentina Shilina, head of the "Call Back Yourself" project in Moscow.
Department of Information Technology.
Fraudsters quickly react to changes in the news cycle. When new requirements or services emerge, or when the order of services or applications using new technologies changes, or when legislation is updated, or regulations or restrictions are introduced, they adapt their schemes, seeking to exploit the element of surprise. The period before standardization and widespread dissemination of information allows scammers to pose as experts, company representatives, or government agencies, exploiting the shift in the established order to their advantage.
Messenger accounts
This year, criminals began purchasing previously hacked or forgotten messaging accounts. They often use these accounts to send phishing links with requests and offers to the former owner's contact database. Clicking on these links and entering data can lead to fraudsters gaining access to users' bank cards. And if, for example, a phone number was previously used to administer channels or public pages, criminals can use it to publish promotional posts about quick money or stock purchases with phenomenal returns.
Experts recommend that users set up two-factor authentication for all messaging accounts. Those planning to change their phone number should first unlink it from all accounts—government and city service websites, banks, marketplaces, and messaging accounts. This will reduce the risk of a possible hack and the associated financial and reputational losses.
Keys to the intercom
This year, scammers have also revived an old scheme: posing as employees from the property management company, they call victims to change their intercom keys and trick them into providing the necessary information. To gain trust, they ask for numerous details—they record the date and time of delivery of the keys to the new door in the building, as well as the number of keys, and ask additional, misleading questions.
At the end of the conversation, the scammers claim that each apartment in the building will be assigned its own intercom code to ensure security. They then send a "unique combination for the resident" to the specified phone number and ask the user to dictate it so it can be recorded in the system. Confident in the legality of the procedure and reassured by the preliminary conversation, the user may let down their guard and provide the digital code. This results in the loss of access to accounts on various websites.
Experts remind users that the SMS code serves as a user authentication method, a kind of digital identity verification. Any requests to provide the SMS code or password or update any confidential information are highly likely a sign of fraud. In such a situation, it's best to suspend communication and double-check the information using the organization's official phone number listed on the company's website or in the app.
Investments and stock trading
In another scheme, scammers may pose as successful employers, invite candidates to interviews, and promise stock trading training and high income. They may also publish posts in hacked public channels, where an "expert consultant" offers effective stock investments and projects with guaranteed returns. Sometimes, the scammers even promote secret apps that offer lucrative earnings for completing very simple tasks.
As a result, trusted users lose their savings, access to their accounts when they install a malicious app, and are unable to withdraw their investments from the fictitious exchange. Furthermore, in some cases, victims, in a state of shock, become involved in the criminal network and recruit new participants in an attempt to recoup their losses. Fraudsters can be so convincing that some victims don't believe they're being deceived until the very end: "experts" promise them a quick breakthrough and guarantee that the investor will return everything many times over. As a result of such schemes, victims give away their savings, borrow significant sums from friends and acquaintances, sell real estate, and take out loans and microloans.
Experts advise against trusting strangers. If you lack experience and in-depth knowledge of finance and economics, it's essential to verify any information, research the organization, and do at least some basic research. Furthermore, before clicking links and entering personal information, it's important to research the resources and their content, as well as ensure the address is correct and secure.
The main recommendation is not to believe in miracles and grandiose promises, as brokerage cannot guarantee income, and the possibility of a multiple increase in the invested amount should immediately raise concern.
To learn more about investment fraud, get expert advice, and a helpful checklist with recommendations, visitwebinar recordings project "Call Back Yourself".
General recommendations
Most scammers' tactics follow a common pattern: they try to evoke strong emotions: joy, fear, or anxiety. For example, they might claim a lottery win, a friend's accident, or, posing as law enforcement officers, report a crime. They then ask for important information or send money, leaving no time to consider the situation. Without the opportunity to weigh the risks and seek advice from loved ones, the victim may make rash decisions and succumb to the scammer's pressure.
Fraudsters use manipulation and psychological pressure to gain access to personal data, passwords, and bank details, as well as control over app accounts. Therefore, it's always important to remember not to disclose or publicly publish passport information and photos, tax identification numbers (TIN), insurance numbers (SNILS), and other documents, or to share bank card details with strangers, or to share codes and passwords received via SMS.
In situations where scammers pretend to represent official organizations, remember that banks, institutions, mobile operators, and other reputable organizations typically don't send important notifications via messaging apps, don't call from unknown numbers, and don't rush decisions. You can get all the information you need in the official app, by calling the hotline, or by visiting an office.
If you receive a suspicious call, a message from an unfamiliar number, or an old friend unexpectedly asks you to vote for them in a contest, you can turn to a free AI-powered tool StopfakeThe service checks messages for signs of fraud and recognizes several types of information: text and voice messages, screenshots of conversations, and can also detect signs of synthesized speech (deepfake) in audio. Based on the results of the check, the bot assesses the likelihood of fraud and indicates which signals to pay attention to.
Information online project Call me back yourself Created in 2022 by the Moscow Government in collaboration with the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the City of Moscow, it helps Muscovites protect themselves and their loved ones from telephone and online fraud. In 2023, the project won the "Best Social Project Website" award at the Golden Site awards. It also received the Runet Prize in the "Information Security" category. In 2025, the project received awards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs' international "Shield and Pen" competition and the 4th All-Russian "Regional Information Security Cup" competition.
The creation and support of information security tools, as well as countering cyber fraud, are in line with the objectives of the national project "Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State"More information about Russia's national projects and the capital's contribution can be found atspecial page.
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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
