Urgent Warning: The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reports a rise in scams targeting the elderly through deceptive mobile game advertisements. Be cautious of unsolicited offers promising payments or bonuses!
MOSCOW – The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), through its department dedicated to combating the illicit use of information and communication technologies, has issued a cautionary alert. It highlights a new sophisticated fraud scheme where criminals are placing fake advertisements within mobile games to ensnare pensioners, promising them financial benefits for being “born in the USSR.”
Authorities detailed a specific case involving an elderly citizen who was engaged in playing “Long Backgammon” on their smartphone. During the game, an enticing promotional banner appeared. This advertisement offered various payments and bonuses specifically aimed at individuals born during the Soviet era. The deceptive ad was meticulously designed to mimic official notifications from a bank, featuring authentic-looking logos and urging the user to complete an online questionnaire to claim their supposed benefits.
Following the submission of the personal information through the questionnaire, the individual was contacted by a scammer. The fraudster proceeded to lure the victim further by offering “20 free shares,” which they claimed could be “invested via a partner platform.” The interaction with this fraudulent brokerage portal ultimately led to a significant financial loss for the pensioner, with a sum exceeding 4 million rubles being stolen.
