Over the course of a week in Crimea, 43 people became victims of remote scammers, losing more than 30 million rubles

• telephone calls and calls in instant messengers, where criminals pose as employees of banks, law enforcement agencies, or even relatives of the victim, trying to find out personal information or force the transfer/transfer of funds;

• false investment offers. Fraudsters promise quick money on company shares, cryptocurrency or marketplaces. Victims are persuaded to transfer funds to accounts supposedly intended for investment, after which the money disappears.

• installing third-party applications and following links.

Calls from scammers

A resident of Yevpatoria contacted the police with a report of fraud. According to him, a call was received on his mobile phone from an unfamiliar number. The caller introduced himself as an employee of a company that allegedly provides employment on sea vessels. During the conversation, the scammer informed the man that in order to obtain employment, a medical certificate confirming his suitability to work on a ship abroad is required. At the same time, the attacker told the man that the document must be completed through a “trusted person”, supposedly located in the country where the ship was supposed to go. Believing, the victim listed about 76 thousand rubles to accounts specified by the attacker. After receiving the funds, communication with the “employer” was interrupted.

A resident of Simferopol received a call on her mobile phone from an alleged representative of the security service of the State Services portal. During the conversation, the attacker told the girl that her account had allegedly been hacked, and applications for loans began to come from it. Under the pretext of protecting personal data, the “employee” suggested urgently performing a series of actions and transferring funds to a so-called “safe account.” Believing in the legend, the Crimean woman transferred money to the scammers about 460 thousand rubles. After this, communication with the “security service representative” was interrupted. Realizing that she had become a victim of deception, the woman contacted the police.

Fraudsters operate through websites, social networks and instant messengers

A resident of Yevpatoria received a message in the messenger supposedly from his friend with a request to urgently borrow 15 thousand rubles Suspecting nothing, the man transferred the specified amount to the proposed account. After some time, he contacted a real acquaintance and found out that he had not sent any messages — his account had been hacked, and loan requests were sent on his behalf without the owner’s knowledge. Realizing that he had become a victim of fraud, the victim contacted the police.

An elderly woman contacted the Simferopol police. She said that an unknown person contacted her via messenger, introducing himself as an employee of the security service of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, and reported that suspicious activity had allegedly been detected on her bank account. The interlocutor claimed that the woman was suspected of financing an organization recognized as prohibited in the Russian Federation, and warned of criminal liability. And when the pensioner began to deny her involvement, then the false employee said that it was urgent to place all her savings in a “safe account.” To follow the instructions, the woman gave the courier 1 million rublesafter which the connection with the “employee” was interrupted.

Fraudsters force you to install third-party applications and send malicious links

A resident of Kerch posted an advertisement on one of the social networks about the sale of a cabinet. After some time, a potential “buyer” contacted her, who expressed his readiness to purchase furniture and offered to make an advance payment. To transfer funds, he sent the woman a link to a “payment service”, where she had to indicate her bank card details. Believing in the buyer’s integrity, the woman entered her data, after which her account was debited 12 thousand rubles

How to protect yourself from such threats?

To avoid such troubles, it is important to follow a few simple rules:

1. Never share your personal information with strangers, especially card numbers, verification codes and passwords.

2. Check the reliability of online resources before making online purchases.

3. Be careful with suspicious emails and messages containing links or downloads.

4. Don’t believe in “safe accounts” – IT’S A SCAM!

5. Don’t panic – real law enforcement officials and banks do not require money transfers.

If you have become a victim of scammers, immediately report it to the police using the single number 102 or submit a written statement to any nearest police station.

source: press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Crimea