Fraudsters Impersonate Mobile Operators to Steal Data
Experts from the 'Peredzvonis sam' project revealed that fraudsters impersonate mobile operators to steal personal data and access users' accounts by requesting SMS codes, installing malicious software, or tricking victims into transferring money. They warn of risks from reused old SIM cards and advise enabling two-factor authentication and disconnecting old numbers from accounts.
Consensus
- Fraudsters impersonate mobile operators to gain access to personal data and accounts.
- They contact victims via phone calls or messages, claiming issues like expired contracts or suspicious transactions.
- Victims are asked to provide SMS codes, confirm personal data, or install software.
- Sending SMS codes is strictly prohibited and never done by legitimate operators.
- Installing software requested by unknown callers may lead to data theft and SMS interception.
- After changing SIM cards, users should disconnect old numbers from accounts and services.
- Experts recommend enabling two-factor authentication for account protection.
- Old SIM cards may be reused by fraudsters to regain access to previous owners' accounts.
- Users should immediately end suspicious calls and contact operators through official channels.
Points of divergence
- Starting March 1, Russian banks will expand criteria for blocking transfers if malicious software is detected on a user's device. — vm
- Over 24,000 IT crimes were registered in Moscow in six months, which is 6,000 fewer than in the previous period. — m24
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs previously reported that fraudsters also pose as bank employees, law enforcement, or operators to extract codes, personal data, or money. — m24
Coverage (3 sources)
- Experts from the 'Call Back Yourself' project revealed schemes of scammers who present themselves as telecom operators. — Город Москва
- Experts from 'Call Back Yourself' revealed fraudulent schemes of fake telecom operators — Вечерняя Москва
- Experts from "Call Back Yourself" revealed on fraudulent schemes of fake operators — Москва 24