- Статьи
- Internet and technology
- Chained together: Roskomnadzor tells about the most effective fraud schemes
Chained together: Roskomnadzor tells about the most effective fraud schemes
Over half of Russians have encountered telephone scammers. The most vulnerable to scammers were women and zoomers. At the same time, the most defenseless remain children, orphanage graduates, lonely people, the elderly and people in need, experts note. Most often victims lose tens of thousands of rubles, while frauds worth more than 100 thousand are found in 15% of cases. It is noteworthy that every second deceived was confident that he was able to recognize the fraudster in time and resist him. How to avoid psychological traps - in the material "Izvestia".
Who is more likely to fall for the tricks of swindlers
According to Roskomnadzor, victims of remote fraudsters are often the most vulnerable categories: children, the elderly and people in difficult financial situations. Elderly people often lack communication and have no one to consult. At the same time, they are often poorly informed on a number of issues, for example, they have little understanding of modern technologies and the opportunities available to them. Therefore, they readily accept "help" from fraudsters.
One of the new schemes that victims are increasingly turning to the Center for Legal Assistance to Citizens in the Digital Environment, created on the initiative of Roskomnadzor, is a phone call informing them that a doctor's appointment in the EMIAS system has been canceled without the patient's knowledge. The scammer, posing as an EMIAS support employee, offers to urgently install "an updated version of the medical system application".
Its label differs only slightly from the original, Roskomnadzor told Izvestia. After installing the software, fraudsters get remote access to the device and the ability to withdraw money through banking applications. For example, a Muscovite who applied to the center in late November, the attackers thus stole 280 thousand rubles. At present, the center's experts are gathering evidence to restore the victim's rights.
The scheme of involving the elderly in "secret law enforcement operations" by social engineering remains popular with criminals. Presenting themselves as employees of Rosfinmonitoring, FSB or police, fraudsters intimidate the victim by announcing that huge loans have been taken out on her or that they are trying to secretly sell her apartment. The victim is asked to help in catching the criminal. As a rule, the help consists in taking out a "sham" loan or "making it look like the property is being sold". The money received is offered to be transferred to a "safe account", and at the end of the "secret operation" they promise to return the funds back. Here fraudsters play on the peculiarities of the elderly, who were brought up in the spirit of patriotism and the need to help in every possible way in the fight against crime. As a result, a person is often given multimillion-dollar loans or is left without a home.
In addition to the scheme with calls from medical institutions and law enforcement agencies, calls from the Social Fund, which lead to the theft of an account on "Gosuslugi", are also popular.
Fraudsters also have their own approaches to children, who, due to their lack of life experience, easily fall for tricks. Parents often issue bank cards for their children and do not control their use. Fraudsters contact such a minor, rub into his confidence, and then offer to buy something from them at a price lower than the standard price, say the structure of Roskomnadzor. For example, digital content in online games, which are so popular among teenagers. Having received the money, they disappear.
So, a resident of St. Petersburg appealed to the center. His son downloaded a popular game in which it was possible for real money to purchase additional features and images. In the game, one of the participants contacted his son and offered to buy a rare and expensive image (skin) for half price. To do this, it was necessary to go to the messenger. The boy sent the required amount to the phone number specified in the messenger and returned to the game to get the purchased image. However, the seller left the game and never entered it again, and the phone numbers where the boy communicated with him and to which he transferred money were blocked.
A dangerous trend that is becoming increasingly popular is the use of minors' bank cards to cash in funds stolen during other crimes. High school students and pupils, who from the age of 14 get the right to make their own cards, are the most active participants in the dropper activity. Most of them do not suspect that they are becoming complicit in a fraudulent scheme. Criminals write to the teenager in social networks and messengers, persuading him to give out the details of the bank card for a fee or under another pretext. The teenager, not realizing the consequences, agrees and as a result becomes an unwitting accomplice to illegal actions. And this can lead to legal consequences both for him and his family.
Among vulnerable groups we can single out former orphanage inmates and people with health limitations, who are socialized much less than other citizens, as the Association for the Development of Financial Literacy (ARFG) under the Central Bank of the Russian Federation notes. People in difficult financial situations also often become droppers. Involuntarily or consciously joining an illegal scheme, they may face serious legal consequences, including compensation for damages. Single people are also at risk, and much effort should be made in preventive work with them, the ARFG notes.
In recent months, more than half of the surveyed Russians (56%) have encountered telephone scammers, and often repeatedly, according to the research data of the company "Renaissance Insurance" (RS). Moreover, 18% of respondents received one call, 26% - two, and 12% - three.
How to recognize fraudsters on the phone
Contrary to the attitude that only "grandmothers" fall for scammers, practice shows that age is not a determining factor, says the company PRO32. It is much more important in what environment the call occurred. The most vulnerable subscribers are those who are in a hurry, busy with business or engaged in an important conversation. Such people, fully focused on their work, feel irritated by a sudden call and, in an effort to end the conversation as soon as possible, sometimes give away important information.
For example, introducing himself as an employee of the sorting center of "Russian Post", the fraudster says that the victim received a letter from government agencies and specifies whether it will be convenient to read it on "Gosuslugi" or the person will come to the post office. The victim may jump at the chance to read the letter quickly and dictates a confirmation code. The consequences of such hasty decisions are deplorable.
Dmitry Sokolov, head of the information security service of MoyOffice, said that recently lessons on financial literacy have already been introduced at the school level, and the basics of cyber security (cyber hygiene) can be taught as part of computer science lessons. The training concept has already been approved at the state level. As for pensioners and people in need, the key is to work with them at the family and community level, Sokolov said. Relatives should hold regular conversations, explaining how to recognize fraud and what to do if it happens. Social programs and advertisements also play an important role - they should be increased on television, and especially between programs that are popular with the adult population. Information should also be placed in places frequented by the elderly and people in need. Posters and information boards in hospitals and clinics are suitable.
At the same time, the percentage of telephone fraud in the overall structure of cybercrime is decreasing globally, according to Dmitry Ermakov, head of the Fraud Protection Department at F.A.C.C.T.. Dmitry Ermakov. This is due to the measures taken by cellular operators to block calls from spoofed numbers. The situation is also affected by the move of the SWO, as there are fewer call centers in Ukraine, where most of the calls come from. Yet phone calls from fraudsters still pose a danger to bank subscribers and customers.
The techniques used by phone scammers are constantly being adapted to the political situation in the country and the ways of counteraction on the side of banks. For example, now fraudsters are actively using the topic of SWO: they call and report that from the account of the interlocutor are allegedly made transfers in favor of the AFU, noted in F.A.C.C.T..
The fraudulent scheme of payment for housing and utilities services is gaining momentum, when the victim is sent fake receipts by mail, both ordinary and electronic. A QR code on the form leads to an Internet page with a malicious code. Fraudsters also call on behalf of the cellular operator and tell about the change of tariff or blocking the SIM-card, on behalf of insurance companies call car owners, informing about the expiration of the term of MTPL insurance.
During the calls, the company "Absolut Insurance" reminds, attackers can address by name and even send SMS allegedly on behalf of the bank.
How not to become a victim of a phone scammer
The main way to fight against phone scammers is not to provide them with any data, and if the situation is doubtful - go to the bank branch, post office or the police for solutions and clarifications.
As a rule, attackers implement schemes that do not target specific people or a group, such as age group. They try to reach as many potential victims as possible, says Dmitry Galov, head of Kaspersky GReAT in Russia.
- However, in some cases, scammers can actually adapt their legends and make them more believable to a certain audience. For example, distributing malware under the guise of popular games, luring people to scam resources offering supposedly easy earnings, etc.," says the expert.
Kaspersky GreAT notes that it is important for all users, regardless of age, to follow at least the basic rules of digital security: to be critical of extremely generous or frightening messages on the Web and over the phone, as well as not to click on links or download files from dubious correspondence. It is important to update installed programs and OS in a timely manner and not to download applications from unofficial sources.
At the same time, it is extremely important to combine such protection measures with technical means - use protection solutions on all devices (PCs and smartphones), number identifiers.
Lev Paley, Director of Information Security at Webmonitorex, cites the main recommendation - to double-check unfamiliar numbers. You can drop the call and call back to the specified organization or identify the number in messengers. This will help to make sure that the phone number really belongs to the agency or person claimed in the call.
Lawyers of the Center for Legal Assistance to Citizens in the Digital Environment remind that those who have become victims of fraudsters should contact the police and urgently contact the bank. You can restore a lost account on "Gosuslugi" at the nearest MFC. In this case, it is worth making screenshots of correspondence with fraudsters to keep evidence of what happened. If a relative has been victimized by a fraudster, it is important to support him or her and not to increase the feeling of guilt.
