Cybercriminals have developed a new scam method targeting Russians via Telegram in the lead-up to Russia Day (celebrated on June 12th). The Roskachestvo Digital Expertise Center reported a significant increase in automated accounts (bots) promising substantial monetary prizes from the government as a holiday reward.
Roskachestvo experts warned that these scam bots are being spread through spam messages and advertisements on social media and messaging platforms. Users are lured into a «prize draw» for the holiday, with the promise of winning a large sum, potentially a million rubles. To participate, users are asked for their contact information. Then, under the guise of verifying identity or completing registration, they are prompted to enter a code received via SMS or directly within the messenger app.
Sergey Kuzmenko, head of the center, explained that the primary objective of these fraudulent schemes is to gain access to users` Telegram accounts. Providing the requested code grants the attackers full control over the account, enabling them to send spam, distribute malicious software, and even deceive the victim`s contacts and friends.
Experts recommend being extremely vigilant. They advise users not to click suspicious links and avoid participating in dubious prize draws, especially those promising large sums of money. For additional protection, it is strongly recommended to enable two-factor authentication in Telegram settings, as this will significantly complicate attempts to compromise your account.
— Sergey Kuzmenko, Head of the Roskachestvo Digital Expertise Center
