Warning Against Fraudulent Calls from Russian Post
Russian Post has issued a warning to citizens regarding fraudulent calls impersonating the state-owned postal service. The organization highlighted that scammers are attempting to extract SMS verification codes under the pretense of facilitating deliveries or registrations. In an official statement shared on their Telegram channel, Russian Post clarified that legitimate employees would never request such sensitive information. Individuals receiving such calls are advised to exercise caution and verify the source before sharing any personal data.
Increase in Fraudulent Activities During Sales Season
In a related development, telecommunications company MegaFon has reported a significant rise in fraudulent activities coinciding with the upcoming sales season. The company noted a 33% increase in attempts to redirect users to malicious websites. Despite user activity on online marketplaces being 13% higher than average, it has yet to reach peak levels. MegaFon pointed out that phishing remains one of the most prevalent tactics employed by fraudsters, who create counterfeit websites mimicking reputable brands to harvest personal information such as account details, passwords, and credit card numbers.
Resurgence of the 'Mammoth' Scheme
Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has warned about the revival of the 'Mammoth' criminal scheme, which first emerged in 2019. Previously, scammers exploited fake purchases to steal money and bank card data. The new iteration involves convincing victims to install a mobile application that purportedly secures transactions, but instead, it contains spyware designed to intercept sensitive information, including bank card details and SMS codes. Experts urge consumers to be vigilant, recommending purchases only from trusted platforms and conducting thorough checks on URLs and app sources.
