- Статьи
- Internet and technology
- Other people's rules: how scammers use the subject of traffic violations
Other people's rules: how scammers use the subject of traffic violations
Fraudsters can use the topic of traffic violations to deceive Russians, experts have warned about this. Any minor non-compliance with the law, recorded by the camera, threatens with a fine. Therefore, a person will subconsciously respond more easily to a letter from the traffic police — out of curiosity or a desire to make sure that there was no violation. For more information about how fraudsters use the topic of traffic violations, how dangerous such tricks are and how to protect themselves from them, read the Izvestia article.
What is the topic of traffic violations interesting to scammers?
Any driver can potentially violate the rules of the road — for example, slightly exceed the speed limit or hit the marking with a wheel. At the same time, even minor non-compliance with traffic regulations, recorded by the camera, threatens with a fine, says Alexandra Shmigirilova, GR director of the Security Code information security company, in an interview with Izvestia.
— Therefore, a person will subconsciously respond more easily to a letter from the traffic police — out of curiosity or a desire to make sure that there was no violation, — says the expert. — Scammers use this excuse as an effective tool to access the victim in order to request personal data or gain access to devices without undue suspicion.
The topic of traffic violations is a fertile ground for the insinuations of cybercriminals, since it is aimed at basic human feelings, agrees Marina Probets, an Internet analyst and expert at Gazinformservice. The driver's natural concern about a potential offense, as well as an all-encompassing curiosity about dramatic incidents on the roads, creates a powerful incentive to interact with the proposed content.
Imitation of official structures such as the traffic police gives false legitimacy to deception, playing on citizens' trust in state institutions and their willingness to respond promptly to notifications concerning their own safety and law-abiding, the Izvestia interlocutor notes.
What schemes on the topic of traffic violations to expect in 2026
In 2026, fraudsters will continue to speculate on traffic violations using new technologies, according to Angara Security cybersecurity expert Nikolai Dolgov. According to the expert, the Russian Interior Ministry has already noted that attackers are increasingly not sending files, but sending links to pop-up windows with the inscription "Watch a video of an accident with your participation."
"In 2026, we may see more sophisticated techniques," says Izvestia's source. — Next up is the use of artificial intelligence: for example, deep fake accident videos with personalized content or chatbots that "advise" the victim on behalf of the traffic police.
According to Nikolai Dolgov, mass mailings in messengers and social networks can be accompanied by attacks via SMS and QR codes (promising, for example, "a fine for an unserved QR code"). Finally, attackers can combine accident topics with other hot topics, for example, to link the offer of "accident videos" with crisis situations (viral updates, "Gosuslugi portal error") for greater persuasiveness.
However, the main goal of the attackers remains the same — to force users to enter personal data in a hurry or download questionable software, the expert notes.
Daria Lavrova, a senior analyst at Positive Technologies, also expects a wider use of AI by fraudsters to increase the reliability of attacks — plausible generation of photos and videos from the scene of an accident, imitation of the voice or video image of police officers.
"One of the new cyberbullying schemes exploiting traffic violations is the distribution of links on social networks to fake websites disguised as the official traffic police portal," she notes. — Given the active development of AI, such fraudulent schemes will be popular for a long time to come.
What schemes on the topic of traffic violations were previously found on the Web
Meanwhile, online scammers have been trying to speculate on the topic of traffic violations for several years. According to Maria Sinitsyna, a senior analyst at the Digital Risk Protection department of F6, F6 specialists had previously documented a fraudulent scheme with fake websites that disguised themselves as official toll road payment services.
"One of the attackers' networks included 39 domains, including for paying for travel along the Moscow High—speed Diameter, toll roads in St. Petersburg, Voznesensky Tract in Kazan and high-speed roads in Russia," the expert says. — These sites were visually similar to official resources and were freely indexed in search results.
After entering the data on the license plate of the car, the user was offered to pay the "debt," says Maria Sinitsyna. If the user entered the requested data, it could lead to the theft of money from his account. Even earlier, F6 experts found a similar network of 36 phishing resources, most of which operated under the guise of replenishment sites for a transport card account in one of Russia's major cities. Moreover, if the victims were reluctant to pay for "travel" on highways, the attackers changed the "stuffing" on the website to pay traffic police fines.
How to protect yourself from fraud schemes on the topic of traffic violations
Fraudulent schemes on traffic violations are aimed at those who drive regularly and understand that they could theoretically break the rules, especially in an unfamiliar place, notes Alexandra Shmigirilova. Therefore, after seeing an official letter with a photo or video file of a violation, a person is highly likely to want to open it. The malware can load already with this action.
"After clicking on the link, fraudsters gain access to personal and financial information from the bank's personal accounts, Public Services and other applications," the expert warns. — This can result in phone blocking, victim loans, and other negative consequences.
In order to protect themselves from fraud schemes on the subject of traffic violations, experts interviewed by Izvestia advise adhering to the principles of digital hygiene and developing critical thinking. In particular, Marina Probets recommends carefully verifying the authenticity of any notices, especially regarding traffic violations.
"You should always access official government portals (for example, the real traffic police website or the Gosuslugi portal) by entering the address yourself in the browser, rather than clicking on links from suspicious messages," says the specialist. — In addition, you cannot download or install any applications or software from unverified sources, especially if this requirement comes from unfamiliar or suspicious notifications.
Today, the cornerstones of security in the digital space, according to Marina Probets, are regular updates of antivirus software, the use of strong passwords and two-factor authentication, as well as vigilance against any requests for personal information or financial transactions in questionable circumstances.
In turn, Daria Lavrova advises car owners to always check the notifications they receive for typical fraud markers.: the desire to evoke emotions (fear, anxiety, curiosity), a tight time frame, the urge to act "now", the need to click on links and install applications.
— It should be remembered that these notices of fines are sent exclusively through official channels, therefore, when receiving a notification of a "fine", first of all it is necessary to check the information in the official source, — the expert concludes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
