The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has detailed a sophisticated two-stage phone scam. After an initial call, victims are contacted again days later with claims that their voice profile was copied, urging them to transfer all funds, including cash, to a «safe account.»
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has issued a warning about a new, sophisticated two-stage phone scam targeting citizens across the country.
Stage One: The «Telecom Operator» Call
In the initial phase of the fraud, scammers impersonate telecommunication company operators, contacting potential victims. They inform individuals that city landlines are slated for disconnection and offer a seamless «switch» to a new line, promising to retain the existing phone number and tariff conditions. Once the victim agrees, the fraudsters pledge to send the necessary documents by mail.
Stage Two: The «Law Enforcement» or «Bank Employee» Call
A few days later, the second stage unfolds. The victim receives calls from individuals posing as law enforcement officers or employees of the Bank of Russia. These imposters assert that the victim`s voice was copied by criminals during the previous call, thereby granting them complete access to their bank accounts. To «protect» their finances, victims are then strongly urged to «declare» all their savings, including any cash held at home, and to hand these funds over to a courier for transfer to a so-called «safe account.»
Managing Director of RTM Group
«I observe a significant number of similar two-stage fraudulent schemes affecting various age groups – from young people to those of middle and pre-retirement age. They unfortunately transfer money into these multi-step scam systems. While this description covers one format, other variations exist. For instance, some victims are subjected to scare tactics, like attempted account hacks with frequent SMS notifications about password attempts, followed by a period of silence. Days later, they receive a call claiming: `Your account was compromised, and you`ve subscribed to terrorist Telegram channels or liked extremist communities.` In a panic, people are then willing to hand over anything. Similar scenarios have played out with utility meters, where calls about mandatory checks are followed by a `master`s` visit. So, two-step scenarios are not new. What remains striking, however, is that people continue to fall for this, including handing over physical cash, which is typically collected by `droppers` – often individuals with drug dependencies – who then pass the money to other criminal elements. There is now an important service on `Gosuslugi` (Public Services portal) where you can check which SIM cards are registered in your name. Early reports show people discovering hundreds of SIM cards registered to them, implying unwitting involvement in these criminal networks. It`s crucial for everyone to check this.»
The issue of compensating clients for losses incurred from phone fraud remains a significant point of contention between telecommunication operators and financial organizations. This dispute is part of the ongoing discussions surrounding a new anti-fraud legislative package. According to the current draft of these measures, banks would be responsible for reimbursing funds stolen from bank accounts, while mobile operators would cover losses from mobile phone accounts.
