Deceptive content: how scammers speculate on the issue of paying dividends
Fraudsters began to introduce new schemes of deception related to the topic of lifelong dividend payments, which are allegedly due to people born before a certain year, for example, 1990 or 1991. According to the Russian Interior Ministry, potential victims are searched for through online ads, brought together with "lawyers," and eventually money is stolen. Read the Izvestia article about how fraudsters speculate on the topic of paying dividends, what new schemes may appear in 2026 and how to protect themselves from such threats
What is known about the new schemes of fraudsters with the payment of dividends?
The fact that fraudsters began to introduce new schemes of deception on the topic of lifelong dividend payments, which are allegedly due to people born before a certain year, for example, 1990 or 1991, is stated in the materials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. According to the agency, the attackers post relevant ads online to search for potential victims.
When one of them clicks on the link, she is offered to leave a request for a call from a lawyer — and soon the "consultant" really contacts the applicant. He promises a substantial monthly income, but with one condition: to receive it, you need to download several applications that supposedly allow you to make significant profits when buying securities and help in analyzing monetary transactions.
At the next stage, the victim, guided by the scammers, places all his savings in a fake brokerage account. Then the "assistant" pushes the person to apply for a loan, which also gets into the hands of fraudsters through fake applications. This continues until the victim realizes that he is communicating with scammers. In connection with the spread of this scheme, the Interior Ministry urged not to believe offers of quick and easy earnings.
What is the topic of dividend payment interesting to intruders?
Scenarios that use various payments from government or near-government services are the most common in the world of Internet scams, Alexander Vurasko, Director of development at the Solar AURA Monitoring Center for External Digital Threats, told Izvestia.
— The logic here is simple: it is quite difficult (although not impossible) to convince that a private company owes you something, but it is much easier to convince that you have not received any government payments and you are entitled to a bonus that was not previously received for various reasons, — explains the expert.
Dividend payment schemes attract fraudsters because they arouse the interest of potential victims, adds Alexandra Shmigirilova, GR Director of the Security Code information Security company. In the framework of such schemes, a person is not offered to part with his money, but, on the contrary, they promise to help in obtaining it. In addition, the initiative of the call often comes from the victim himself, which means that she is psychologically ready to talk and highly involved.
This greatly simplifies the work of intruders. They don't need to spend time and effort on persuasion, gathering information for a personalized approach, or overcoming initial distrust. From the victim's point of view, everything looks legitimate. She herself contacts the specified contact and communicates with an "official representative" who simply makes the required payments, notes Alexandra Shmigirilova.
"Using specific time frames (for example, being born before 1991) creates the illusion of an official state program or the "restoration of historical justice," which increases the level of trust and makes the victim feel chosen," says Marina Probets, an Internet analyst and expert at Gazinformservice.
According to the expert, such a "legend" allows scammers not only to involve citizens in multi-stage psychological traps through calls from fake "lawyers", but also to effectively lure out personal data and money under the pretext of paying commissions, insurance or taxes necessary to obtain non-existent wealth.
What kind of dividend payment schemes should we expect in 2026?
In 2026, fraudulent schemes on the payment of dividends are likely to become more technologically advanced and personalized, predicts Nikita Novikov, an expert on cybersecurity at Angara Security. Scammers will use neural networks more actively to adapt scenarios to a specific audience, adjusting offers to the age, region and financial interests of the potential victim.
"News about natural rents, social benefits, and various forms of passive income will continue to be exploited as reasons,— the Izvestia source says. — At the same time, a separate area is associated with pseudo-investment proposals. We can expect an increase in schemes related to allegedly profitable investments in shares of domestic companies or digital assets, issued with the "consultation" of analysts or investment platforms.
In 2026, it is possible that ultra-realistic schemes using video and audio chips will appear, where the "top officials" of large energy companies or government departments will announce the launch of "people's investment platforms" or the distribution of profits from digital assets as part of the introduction of the digital ruble, Marina Probets believes.
According to the analyst, scammers will switch to hyperpersonalized attacks, using neural networks to generate fake identity certificates and automated AI consultants capable of conducting lengthy conversations in instant messengers to convince the victim.
"The main focus will shift to the legends of "social cashback" and payments for "patriotic loyalty," which will allow scammers to lure access to biometric data and digital profiles of citizens under the pretext of registering in new closed registers of recipients," says Marina Probets.
How to protect yourself from fraudulent schemes on the topic of paying dividends?
Fraudulent schemes related to the payment of dividends are aimed at the widest audience, says Olga Altukhova, senior content analyst at Kaspersky Lab, in an interview with Izvestia. The main risk lies not only in the loss of savings, but also in getting involved in a credit history: the victim is gradually pushed towards loans, increasing the financial and psychological consequences.
— People with low incomes are especially vulnerable to scams, for whom payments seem to be a chance to solve financial problems, — adds Alexandra Shmigirilova. — By entering into a dialogue with a trained scammer, the victim falls into a trap.
According to the expert, the attacker creates the illusion of formality and urgency (for example, by stating: "Without this data, payment is impossible according to the rules"), which makes it difficult for a person to break off contact. Believing that he is communicating with an employee who is "just processing documents," the victim strives to fulfill all the requirements, which leads to the transfer of confidential data or the transfer of money under the pretext of "commissions" or "fees."
Protection against such schemes begins with basic digital hygiene and a critical attitude towards any profitable offers, Nikita Novikov notes. Reliable information about social benefits, benefits, and government programs should be obtained exclusively through official channels — the Gosuslugi portal, the IFC, or authorized government agencies.
It is important not to enter personal and financial data on sites with a dubious reputation, even if they visually copy the design of government resources, and also not to install applications from unknown sources, including files and links sent by strangers. Any offer involving urgency, guaranteed income, or lifetime payments should be taken as a reason for additional verification.
—Systematic caution, checking sources and avoiding impulsive decisions can significantly reduce the risk of financial losses and avoid unpleasant consequences, including celebrating the New Year without unnecessary stress and unexpected expenses,— concludes Nikita Novikov.
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