The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported about a new fraud scheme through the application for payment for housing and utilities services

Fraudsters have started using a scheme to hack into cell phones by installing applications on the victim's mobile device to pay for housing and utilities services or to make an appointment with a doctor. This was reported in the press service of the Russian Interior Ministry on January 2.

"Swindlers are introduced by phone as employees of management companies or medical institutions and offer to install a new application to pay utility bills or make an appointment with a doctor," TASS quoted the Interior Ministry as saying.

It is specified that these applications are not actually designed for this purpose. With the help of them, fraudsters get remote access to the mobile device and steal money from the owners' cards. The Interior Ministry added that they distribute malicious files through phishing links in social networks.

Also, the Interior Ministry urged people not to download applications obtained through dubious links and to check the e-mail addresses of sites before entering information about themselves there.

Holiday bottom: experts named the top 5 fraudulent schemes for the New Year

It included fake pranks and tickets - how attackers are using neural networks and dipfakes

Earlier, December 30, the Interior Ministry reported on the activation of phone scammers before the New Year. It is specified that at first fraudsters trick the victim into taking a loan and give them the money. Then, when the victim tries to return the funds, the fraudsters convince her that she is involved in a covert operation to catch them, and under this pretext force her to commit a crime. In the end, the victim, who wanted to get her money back, is herself accused of committing a serious crime.