Denis Kalemberg, CEO of SafeTech, has disclosed to RIA Novosti that fraudsters have initiated a new scam targeting Russians applying to visa centers.
Kalemberg highlighted that the current complex geopolitical climate has created an opportunity for attacks on affluent individuals seeking Schengen visas. Scammers exploit this by calling potential victims, posing as embassy officials, under the pretense of “clarifying details” or “resolving document-related issues.”
As part of the deception, victims are asked to provide a simple electronic signature to “confirm” their data, which involves entering a code received via SMS. Following this, the user gets deceptive messages, seemingly from “Gosuslugi” (the Russian public services portal), indicating a login attempt and data download. Later, another message arrives concerning a power of attorney, urging the recipient to call back if they did not authorize it.
“The panicked individual calls back, and then the standard script unfolds: an accusation of financing terrorism. To ostensibly `stop` this, the victim is instructed to obtain loans from banks and transfer the funds to a supposed `safe account`,” Kalemberg elaborated.
This sophisticated scheme demonstrates an evolution of social engineering tactics. For example, a similar incident recently occurred in Nizhny Novgorod, where a 69-year-old accountant lost her apartment, garage, and savings between March and July after being manipulated by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officers.
