CrimeaPRESS reports:
A new fraudulent scheme has emerged in Russia, thanks to which attackers steal money from the accounts of parents of underage gamers.
Fraudsters are increasingly using online games popular with children to commit illegal acts. For example, Minecraft or Brawl Stars. As a rule, in such games it is possible to make a donation (monetary donation — approx.) or give another player an in-game item, which is what cybercriminals are targeting.
The attackers contact the child in an online chat during the game with an offer to give him some fashionable game item in exchange for performing simple actions. For example, this could be providing parents’ bank card details or directly transferring funds to scammers.
A number of criminals send children a photo with a QR code and inform them that after scanning it they will receive their reward. In reality, the QR code is intended for transferring funds through the Fast Payment System (FPS). Another alternative to extorting funds is telling the child that he allegedly won a large sum of money in a competition. To credit the winnings, of course, you need the bank card details of one of the parents.
Recently, scammers have been actively involving children in their criminal schemes, noted Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications.
In this case, we are talking about the younger age group — as a rule, these are children from 8 to 11 years old. The increased activity of criminals is associated with the popularity of both mobile and computer video games among children. Let me remind you that according to Kaspersky Lab, every 10th school gamer devotes all his free time to games. At the same time, the guys are actively buying various in-game goods. For example, a weapon for your character or a new game card. All this becomes an effective hook that allows you to lure a child“, the deputy explained.
According to Nemkin, the most common strategy of scammers in this case is to report victory in a competition.
For example, a child may be told that he scored the most points in his age group or completed the most difficult game map in the shortest time. Next, social engineering methods are used quite actively. The child is literally “pressured”: for example, they are constantly urged that the deadline for transferring winnings will soon come to an end and it is necessary to provide bank card information as quickly as possible. As a result, the child is disoriented and ready to fulfill almost all the attackers’ conditions.explained the parliamentarian.
Nemkin emphasized that parents need to tell their children about the potential dangers they may encounter in online games.
First of all, it is necessary to explain that under no circumstances should you disclose information about bank cards and family income to a stranger. This applies not only to games, but also to other areas of our lives. Secondly, we need to remind you of the dangers of clicking on links sent by strangers. They can easily turn out to be phishing and, moreover, contain malware. Finally, always remind your child that strangers on the Internet should be treated with great caution. Especially when they offer to participate in something, — recommended the deputy.
source: press service of the Russian State Duma deputy Anton Nemkin
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