- Статьи
- Internet and technology
- Open the season: what schemes to expect from scammers for the start of spring rental of electric scooters
Open the season: what schemes to expect from scammers for the start of spring rental of electric scooters
Fraudsters may resort to various schemes to deceive Russians by the start of the spring rental of electric scooters and bicycles, which traditionally falls at the end of March or the beginning of April, experts have warned. Attackers are enjoying the growing popularity of kicksharing services, and paying for trips through mobile applications using bank cards is becoming an attractive target for them. For more information about what schemes to expect from scammers by the start of spring rental of electric scooters, how dangerous they are and how to protect yourself from them, read the Izvestia article.
How is the start of electric scooter rental interesting for scammers
The beginning of spring rental of electric scooters and bicycles is a seasonal trigger for phishing, says Sergey Polunin, head of the Gazinformservice IT infrastructure solutions protection group, in an interview with Izvestia. Personal mobility devices have a huge audience of all ages, and interest in them is only growing.
"Kicksharing services have gained popularity due to their accessibility and mobility," said Konstantin Gorbunov, an expert on network threats and web developer at Security Code. — At the same time, paying for rental through mobile applications using bank cards is an attractive target for fraudsters.
Users of kicksharing services are psychologically ready to quickly enter their payment details, and rental owners simplify the travel procedure as much as possible, adds Sergey Polunin. The interface for linking cards is extremely simple and easy to fake. And if a person is also in a hurry, he turns into an ideal candidate for attacks using social engineering methods.
At the same time, according to Konstantin Gorbunov, during the season of active demand for electric scooters, the number of fraud attempts traditionally increases also because new users are simply not familiar with the rules of safe rental.
What schemes on the topic of electric scooter rental can we expect this season?
In the spring of 2026, cybercriminals may create fraudulent websites where they can allegedly rent personal mobility equipment at a more attractive price, says the head of BI.ZONE Digital Risk Protection Dmitry Kiryushkin. At the same time, in addition to phishing sites, attackers can post QR codes leading to fraudulent resources with fake accounts to pay rent.
"This year, we expect to continue using schemes related to fake QR codes," MTS Defender experts agree. — There may also be ways to cheat through phishing links related to the test use of the "new universal application", which includes all brands of scooter and bicycle rentals.
Fake QR codes on rental vehicles allow you to simulate the payment process, Konstantin Gorbunov notes in an interview with Izvestia. After authorization on a fake resource, the money is debited in favor of third parties, and the rental service is not activated.
Presumably, scammers will also use messengers: they can create bots offering promo codes and discounts, admits Dmitry Kiryushkin. By accessing such resources, victims risk losing money and sensitive data that can be used in further attacks.
— "Support services" are likely to appear in messengers, offering supposedly favorable conditions for activating trips, — Konstantin Gorbunov adds.
Other possible fraudulent tricks include reports of fines for driving through pedestrian crossings and notices of open rentals. All these are variations of ways to mislead potential victims in order to force them to part with their funds, Sergey Polunin emphasizes.
What schemes on the topic of electric scooter rental have you encountered before
Fraudsters have been trying to speculate on the launch of electric scooter and bicycle rentals for several years — in previous seasons, several standard scenarios of intruders have already been recorded, Angara Security cybersecurity expert Nikolai Dolgov said in an interview with Izvestia.
— One of the most common schemes is phishing websites of rental services: users got to them through advertisements or links in messengers, — says the expert. — After entering the card details on such a site, the money was debited, but the service was not provided.
There have also been previous cases of QR codes being substituted on scooters and bicycles, the Izvestia source adds. The user scanned the code, went to the phishing page and entered the payment details, but did not receive the service. Another scheme involved fake promotions and bonuses. People were offered "free rides," "gift certificates," or "extended fares," but to activate, they had to enter their card details or pay a "symbolic amount."
Finally, there have been cases of fake apps being distributed outside of official stores. Such resources could not only steal data, but also install malicious software on users' devices, the expert notes.
— Such fraud scenarios are designed for those who rarely use kicksharing services, and are also unaware of scooter and bicycle rental services, — says Dmitry Kiryushkin. — This category of users is at increased risk of losing money or confidential data.
The attackers rely on haste, inattention and insufficient digital literacy when using the rental service for the first time, Konstantin Gorbunov adds. The danger of such schemes is both the direct theft of funds from the account and the compromise of bank details, which can lead to more serious financial losses in the future.
How to protect yourself from fraud when renting electric scooters
To protect yourself from fraudulent schemes during the rental season of electric scooters and bicycles, cybersecurity experts interviewed by Izvestia advise following key rules of digital hygiene. First of all, according to Nikolai Dolgov, it is important to install applications only from official stores and check the developer. Even if the app looks familiar, it's better to spend a few seconds exploring it than to face data loss.
— Always check the domain name: fraudsters often change several characters in the website address, thus imitating the original sources, — Dmitry Kiryushkin recommends. — In addition, scammers often raise their sites in search results by purchasing ads.
When renting bicycles or electric scooters directly, you should not scan suspicious QR codes, especially if they look like stickers on top of the original code, says Nikolai Dolgov. If in doubt, it is better to open the official app and rent a device through it.
QR codes for trip activation should be scanned only in the application, and the domain to which the link leads must be checked character by character, adds Konstantin Gorbunov. It is also recommended to use a separate debit card with a minimum balance for such services. And if you receive suspicious messages about fines or account blocking, you must verify the information in the official application or on the service's website.
— It is important to avoid clicking on links from SMS, instant messengers and advertisements, and pay special attention to resources offering "profitable offers" or "urgent promotions," emphasizes Nikolai Dolgov. — The most reliable resources are only the official websites and applications of the services.
Finally, it is important to remember that scammers often play on haste and emotions. If the offer seems too profitable or requires urgent action, this is a reason to stop and carefully check the source. The simple rule of "double-check before action" remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, the Izvestia interlocutor concludes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
