St. Petersburg police are warning about a new fraudulent scheme specifically targeting prospective university students. According to a statement released via their Telegram channel, fraudsters are now posing as university representatives.
This new scam operates by scammers calling potential students, pretending to be members of a university`s admissions committee. They inform the applicant about a high chance of securing a government-funded place but claim this requires following a phishing link. This link leads to a fake website designed to look exactly like the official «Gosuslugi» (State Services) portal. When a person clicks the link and follows the instructions on the fake site, they unknowingly compromise their personal data. Furthermore, if the applicant refuses to cooperate, the scammers resort to threats, claiming the student will be «denied admission everywhere.»
Officials reiterated that the only legitimate ways to gain admission to higher education institutions are through the results of the Unified State Exam (EGE), winning recognized olympiads, or successfully passing university-specific entrance examinations.
Previously, an information security expert from Khlynov Bank, Andrey Popov, emphasized the critical importance for parents to educate their children about the dangers of trusting strangers online. He advised teaching children to always seek help from adults if contacted by someone they don`t know, especially if the stranger`s online profile appears empty or hidden, lacking friends, posts, or personal information.
