An expert predicts a significant surge in cyber fraud in Russia, noting that digital methods are set to replace traditional phone scams.
According to Ekaterina Dub, an expert specializing in combating fraud, the era of traditional phone scams is drawing to a close, increasingly being supplanted by more sophisticated cybercrimes. Dub highlighted that perpetrators are actively transitioning their operations to the internet, focusing on creating fraudulent resources and elaborate phishing websites.
«In the coming years, we anticipate a considerable escalation, indeed a boom, in cyber fraud, where individuals will be extensively targeted and deceived through online channels,» Dub stated.
She largely attributed this strategic shift by criminals to the recent implementation of stricter regulations concerning mobile communication and messaging services across Russia. Specifically, during calls made via platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or standard cellular networks, crucial confirmation codes from the «Gosuslugi» public services portal and various banking applications are no longer reliably delivered.
«This development significantly hampers the efficacy of traditional phone scammers, effectively compelling them to seek and exploit new avenues for their deceptive practices within the pervasive digital landscape,» the expert further elaborated.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs had previously issued warnings regarding a noticeable increase in fraudulent schemes. These tactics primarily involve the meticulous replication of popular online store websites and fast payment systems, specifically engineered to mislead and defraud unsuspecting users.
