Scammers are actively targeting Russian car owners, luring them with fraudulent offers of quick and cheap compulsory motor third-party liability insurance (OSAGO) policies. Research conducted by the cybersecurity firm Bi.Zone has revealed that these malicious actors attract victims by promising expedited services and significantly reduced prices.
In September, specialists from Bi.Zone Brand Protection identified over 5,000 online advertisements across various digital platforms, all offering assistance with OSAGO registration. These ads typically promised remote processing and the convenient delivery of the completed policy via email, requiring only payment and personal data from the unsuspecting customer.
Analysts estimate that up to 9% of these online offers could be fraudulent. The methods employed by these fraudsters are diverse: some schemes involve criminals disappearing after receiving an upfront payment, others entail sending fake or invalid insurance policies, and some even process genuine policies but register them using incorrect or third-party personal details without the client`s knowledge.
Dmitry Kiryushkin, the head of Bi.Zone Brand Protection, issued a specific warning regarding schemes that exploit third-party discounts. He explained that scammers might issue a policy under the name of an unrelated individual who is entitled to no-claims bonuses for accident-free driving. This allows the fraudsters to offer lower prices while the policy itself is not legitimately tied to the actual client or their vehicle.
Identifying such fraudulent offers is relatively straightforward, as they nearly always feature excessively appealing conditions and promises of unusually large discounts. To ensure safety and avoid falling victim to these scams, researchers strongly advise all consumers to purchase insurance exclusively through official and verified platforms, directly from reputable insurance companies or their authorized agents.
Furthermore, Russian citizens have been urged to prepare for a potential increase in sophisticated fraudulent videos and phone calls. According to Alexandra Shmigirilova, GR Director at “Code of Security,” criminals are increasingly leveraging advanced AI technologies to mimic not only voices but also facial expressions and body movements, making deepfake scams more sophisticated and significantly harder to detect by the average user.
