Experts named the top 5 fraudulent schemes for the New Year
The top 5 New Year deception schemes include fake tickets, fake raffles, discounts, fictitious services (for example, Santa Claus) and pseudo changes in rules and legislation, under the pretext of which data and money are swindled from citizens. This was reported to Izvestia by cybersecurity experts. Such schemes are used year after year, but now fraudsters have begun to use artificial intelligence to increase trust and "efficiency" of deception.
One of the most common fraud schemes in the run-up to 2025 were fake prizes and gifts, the cybersecurity company Zecurion told Izvestia. Attackers organize both paid drawings (to participate in which you need to deposit some amount) and free drawings - in which citizens are tricked out of their bank card details, allegedly to transfer the prize later.
Another scheme - with fake tickets to performances and events, Christmas trees, plays, ballet, said in Zecurion. People pay money on phishing sites but end up not being able to get to the event. The top schemes this year also include fictitious pre-holiday discounts, promotions and sales.
It's a good time to buy gifts - in such an environment, customers often lose their guard, Post Bank agreed. Offers to buy hot tours also fit into this scenario, MTS Bank added.
Also this year, fraudsters have often used fake services, mainly to organize holidays and entertain children, ordering Santa Clauses, Snow Maidens and superheroes, Zecurion said.
In addition, the top 5 includes a scheme with pseudo changes in legislation: fraudsters inform gullible people about allegedly new laws, payment procedures, and the expiration of any documents. And then - require the victim to do something immediately, "before it's too late": under this pretext, they lure out personal and financial data.
Read more in Izvestia's exclusive article:
Holiday bottom: experts named the top 5 fraudulent schemes for New Year's Eve
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