The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) has issued a critical warning regarding a sophisticated new scam specifically targeting the nation`s elderly population. Fraudsters are reportedly engaging in a multi-stage deception, initially contacting pensioners under the guise of offering digital television replacement services.
According to the MVD, these criminals initiate contact by calling elderly individuals and proposing an «update» or «replacement» for their existing digital television setup. As part of this initial step, they request the victims to provide a code received via SMS, ostensibly for the technical upgrade. This seemingly innocuous request is a crucial move for the scammers to gain unauthorized access or control.
Once the SMS code is obtained, the scheme escalates into a more serious threat. A second fraudster, impersonating a specialist from Roskomnadzor (the federal service responsible for supervising communications, information technology, and mass media), then contacts the victim. This imposter falsely claims that the victim`s «Gosuslugi» account, which is Russia`s national public services portal, has been compromised or hacked. To amplify the sense of urgency and panic, they also assert that a power of attorney has been fraudulently issued in the victim`s name, supposedly granting the scammers access to their bank accounts.
The ultimate objective of this elaborate criminal operation is to coerce pensioners into transferring their hard-earned savings. Victims are instructed to move their money to «newly issued cards,» which are, in reality, accounts controlled entirely by the fraudsters. This immediate transfer results in the irreversible loss of the victim`s funds.
Important Safety Advice: Roskomnadzor has previously advised citizens on effective ways to protect themselves from such deceptive practices. They strongly urge individuals to immediately terminate any call if the person on the other end claims to be an employee of their agency. This tactic is frequently employed by fraudsters to establish a false sense of authority and manipulate victims into complying with their demands.
This report is based on information provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
