Scammers have begun contacting Russian citizens by impersonating employees of major online marketplaces. Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, revealed details about this new fraudulent scheme developed by cybercriminals.
According to the deputy, these fraudsters, posing as marketplace support staff, contact users and falsely inform them about suspicious transactions or issues with their accounts. During the call, the scammers attempt to build trust with the victim and then try to obtain bank card details or verification codes sent via SMS. Nemkin also cautioned that they might try to trick individuals into clicking on a malicious link.
The parliamentarian highlighted that scenarios where swindlers claim a large order has been placed and suggest canceling it by providing a code or installing remote access software are particularly dangerous. He clarified that legitimate marketplace representatives would never call users unexpectedly and ask for bank card information, SMS codes, or request the installation of any third-party applications.
To safeguard against these malicious actors, Nemkin advised against answering calls from unfamiliar numbers, clicking on links received in SMS messages, and disclosing personal information to anyone over the phone. He concluded, “If you are unsure, it is best to end the conversation and contact the marketplace yourself through their official website or application.”
Previously, Russians received warnings about a different active scam targeting users on WhatsApp and Telegram messengers. In those instances, criminals were reportedly contacting people while pretending to be government officials.
