Contrary to the widespread belief that only high-profile users are targeted, personal accounts on social media and messenger applications hold significant value for fraudsters. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) disclosed this most popular misconception among the public via its dedicated Telegram channel, «Cyber Police Herald of Russia.»
«‘Who even needs my account?’ This is perhaps the most widespread misconception. Many people are accustomed to thinking that an account`s value is measured by the number of subscribers, administrator rights, or `celebrity status`,» the agency stated.
In reality, the MVD emphasized that «live» personal pages belonging to ordinary users on platforms like VK or Telegram are highly desirable to cybercriminals. Such accounts appear trustworthy to both other users and automated security systems, making them ideal instruments for various forms of abuse.
The agency added that a successful breach of a personal account is rarely conducted for the purpose of simply reading private messages. Instead, the compromised account is utilized as a sophisticated tool: for distributing mass phishing messages, participating in illicit financial schemes, or engaging in blackmail. Scammers are also noted to be capable of extracting voice messages and video clips from compromised accounts to create deepfakes, which are then used to deceive the user`s friends and relatives.
In a separate alert, a new fraudulent scheme gained traction in Russia ahead of the holiday season, capitalizing on the theme of the «return of foreign brands.» Users reported receiving messages and communications purportedly from well-known international retailers such as Zara, Bershka, or H&M.
