Uncovering the Latest Fraud Schemes Targeting Your Finances

Offers of financial help often come with a high risk of fraud. Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to exploit fears and uncertainties.

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1. "Protecting Your Funds from Sanctions"

Phone scammers remain a persistent threat, adapting quickly to current events. They often prey on fears related to sanctions, financial restrictions, and currency exchange bans, promising to safeguard your savings.

Common tactics include impersonating bank employees or law enforcement, claiming your money is at risk and urging you to transfer funds to a "secure account." Remember, if you trust your bank, your money is already protected. Financial threats are more likely due to inflation or economic downturns, not external transfers.

Another ploy involves informing you that your bank cards will be deactivated due to sanctions, requesting your card details or verification codes. Sharing such information will only lead to loss of funds, as scammers gain full access.

Despite new angles, the best defense remains the same: if a call threatens your accounts or pressures you, hang up immediately and stay calm.

2. "Assistance with Moving Money Abroad"

Transferring money abroad is heavily regulated. Individuals can send up to $5,000 monthly to foreign accounts, and only $10,000 in cash can be taken out of the country. Cards linked to accounts with funds can be carried abroad, but international payment systems like Visa and Mastercard no longer operate in Russia.

To navigate these restrictions, some resort to complex arrangements, such as reciprocal transfers between two parties—one sending foreign currency abroad, the other transferring funds domestically. However, these schemes are vulnerable to fraud.

Scammers may also offer cryptocurrency purchases or alternative investments promising to return funds overseas. Always ensure you fully understand any scheme and verify the credibility of involved parties. Caution is crucial to avoid losing everything.

3. "Currency Exchange in Unofficial Markets"

Bans on currency exchange inevitably give rise to black markets. Instead of street dealers, transactions now often occur via social media platforms like Telegram, offering courier delivery or hidden drop-offs after receiving rubles or Bitcoin.

The risks include losing your money without receiving currency or getting counterfeit bills. Stay vigilant and avoid unverified exchanges.

4. "Restoring Social Media Access Through Suspicious Forms"

With many services ceasing operations in Russia, scammers exploit this by sending messages via Telegram or email, offering to restore access to social networks. They direct victims to fake websites requesting login credentials.

Providing this information allows scammers to hijack accounts, potentially soliciting money from your contacts or spreading unwanted content. Never enter your credentials on untrusted sites.

5. "Selling Supposed Brand-Name Inventory at Discounted Prices"

Many international brands have exited the Russian market, including budget-friendly and luxury labels. Fraudsters now claim to sell leftover branded goods from warehouses at reduced prices.

These offers often involve counterfeit products priced as if genuine. If you are willing to buy replicas, do so at realistic prices, or better yet, consider affordable authentic brands to avoid deception.

6. "Promises of Compensation and Financial Aid"

Scammers frequently exploit crises by offering fake compensation payments or financial aid. They may ask for sensitive card details or verification codes, resulting in unauthorized withdrawals.

Others request login credentials for government service portals on fraudulent websites, risking identity theft and unauthorized loans.

If you encounter such offers, verify the source by checking official laws or government announcements. Legitimate payments are processed directly through official portals like government service websites or pension funds, without intermediaries.

*Note: Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are banned in Russia.

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