As the new academic year approaches in Russia, experts are forecasting a significant increase in fraudulent activities targeting students. Scammers are expected to intensify their efforts by offering deceptive “preferential education loans” and illicit access to educational materials, according to a warning issued by the `Moshelovka` platform of the People`s Front.
Warning: Preferential Loan Scams
These fraudsters often masquerade as representatives of a new government program for subsidized educational loans. Their tactics involve collecting personal data from students and demanding an “insurance deposit” ranging from 5% to 10% of the supposed loan amount. Upon transferring these funds, the promised loan never materializes, and all communication with the perpetrators ceases, leaving victims out of pocket.
A key factor contributing to this surge is the change in conditions for state-supported educational loans, effective September 1, 2025. The Russian government will now establish a specific list of specializations eligible for these preferential loans. Scammers exploit this regulatory update by offering bogus loans to students whose fields of study are not included in the official government list. Students are strongly advised to verify their specialty`s eligibility against the government`s official approved list.
Deceptive Educational Resource Offers
Another prevalent scam involves offering access to purported exclusive educational resources. Students, particularly freshmen, receive messages via social networks and messengers, inviting them to pay for “exclusive lectures,” “test banks,” or “mandatory online courses.” Clicking on the links provided in these messages directs users to fake payment gateways designed to steal their financial credentials and personal information.
To safeguard against these fraudulent schemes, experts recommend the following:
- Always verify information regarding any paid services through the official channels of your educational institution.
- It is crucial to avoid clicking on links from unverified messages.
- Only use official payment systems explicitly recommended by the university or college.
