Russian Parliament issues alert for potential scams approaching Russia Day celebrations
Keeping Your Wallets and Accounts Safe: Watch Out for These Scams
As the summer holidays and Russia Day celebrations arrive, cybercrooks are on the prowl, concocting new ways to dupe unsuspecting citizens. Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma's Information Policy Committee, has warned about this, speaking to RIA Novosti.
One deception that's gaining popularity involves messages about supposed state payments for Russia Day. These messages often contain links purporting to be from government agencies ('Gosuslugi' or banks) promising 10,000 rubles or other "gifts." To receive these nonexistent gifts, they request card details, authorization on a fake site, or the installation of malicious apps.
Another common practice is sending fake messages about 'holiday deposits.' These messages, for instance, might say, "You've received a holiday payment - confirm login"; "Your bank is giving bonuses - click the link." The provided links lead to sites that mimic official ones, designed to filch logins, passwords, and money from your card.
Crooks are also using phone fraud. Posing as 'enhanced checks before holidays,' these criminals, pretending to be from the MVD, prosecutor's office, or 'financial monitoring,' attempt to scare citizens: "Your account will be blocked due to suspicious transactions"; "You need to urgently transfer money to a 'safe account'." Rest assured; this is nothing more than a classic money theft scheme.
Protecting Yourself
- Be skeptical of suspicious links coming in via SMS, emails, or messengers.
- Never share your bank details on doubtful sites.
- Refrain from installing unknown apps at strangers' request.
- Don't believe incidents in which law enforcers call you; instead, contact the official institution yourself.
"Payments are made only through official government agencies and banks. If you're offered 'easy money,' it's a guaranteed fraud," Nemkin underlined.
The Latest Trick: Stealing Accounts under the Guise of Toy Giveaways
A new scam, dubbed the 'Labubu' scheme, is making its way across Russia. Scammers promise free Labubu toys enticing victims to disclose their account details. To stay clear of this scam, keep the following pointers in mind:
- Recognizing Deception: Beware of offers that appear too good to be true, like free Labubu toys or giveaways. Legitimate companies usually don't hand out expensive gifts without a clear shopping context.
- Unverified Sources: Scammers often contact potential victims via unofficial channels such as social media messages, emails, or text messages. Be cautious if the offer appears from an unverified or unfamiliar source.
- Information Disclosure: Legitimate businesses will not solicit sensitive information like account passwords or credit card numbers for a giveaway.
- Authenticating the Offer: Verify the offer's authenticity by checking the company's official website or social media profiles. Seek out official announcements or promotions.
- Secure Payment Methods: When purchasing a Labubu toy, use secure payment methods, ensuring you buy from authorized dealers.
- Reporting Suspicious Activity: Report any suspicious offers to the relevant authorities or the company's customer service.
By exercising caution and adhering to these guidelines, you can effectively avoid falling prey to con-games involving Labubu toys. Additionally, reading reviews from other customers and being aware of potential risks associated with blind box-style Labubu toys can help secure your purchases.
- In the realm of general-news and politics, keep an eye out for scams that disguise themselves as holiday promotions or free giveaways, such as the new 'Labubu' scheme, which tricks victims into revealing their account details under the pretext of winning free toys.
- Aside from phishing attacks related to Labubu toys, be vigilant about crime-and-justice threats like the increasing use of 'enhanced checks before holidays,' during which scammers impersonate law enforcement agencies to steal money from unsuspecting citizens.
