Strategies for evading deception in chat platforms: essential precautions to take
In the digital age, cybercrime continues to pose a significant threat to individuals and businesses alike. A growing concern in Russia is the increase in sophisticated scams that exploit technology, particularly investment and cryptocurrency schemes, phishing attacks, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
One common scam method involves promising quick riches through fake investment and cryptocurrency opportunities. Scammers often pose as bank employees, government officials, or representatives of well-known online services, sending phishing links to steal user login and password information. Once they gain access, these scammers may send requests for money transfers to the victim's contacts under their name.
Recent reports have highlighted the impact of these scams. For instance, a resident in Kursk lost nearly half a million rubles to scammers who exploited a messenger app. Such incidents underscore the need for vigilance in the digital world.
The use of AI in these scams has become increasingly prevalent. By 2025, there was an increase in fraud schemes using AI, such as forged voices, fake videos, and automated chats to quickly establish trust. Deepfakes are used to mimic messages from company management or government structures. The first cases of profound cyberattacks using artificial intelligence and deepfakes in Russia became publicly known around early 2024, with AI-generated content and manipulation being discussed intensively in social media contexts at that time.
However, specific detailed incidents directly linked to deepfake-enabled cyberattacks in Russia were not explicitly dated in the search results. The discourse on AI misuse was active by January 2024.
In addition to these methods, scammers may gain access to accounts using password guessing or data breach databases. They may also impersonate relatives, colleagues, or government officials, requesting personal data or money transfers under various pretexts.
In messengers, sharing documents can lead to losing your "Gosuslugi" account and having microloans taken out in your name that you might not find out about immediately. Users should be cautious about clicking on links and never share sensitive information unless they are certain about the authenticity of the source.
Scammers also capitalise on people's trust, often sending notifications about lottery wins or gift giveaways. These messages can lead to the loss of funds or personal information. Remember that a correct website address should start with "https://", but scammers can create clones of official bank and government pages. So, never click on links you're not sure about.
Criminals also post fake job ads and freelance offers, requiring payment for training, tools, or a guarantee deposit before starting work. After receiving money, contact is terminated. Pay close attention to the messages themselves. If someone suddenly asks you to do something quickly, ask why and why. There's a high chance it's a scam attempt.
Lastly, beware of fake charitable collections claiming to be for treatment, helping children, or animals. Messages are spread through social media, messengers, and comments under posts of well-known people. Always verify the authenticity of such appeals before donating.
Stay informed and stay safe. Subscribe to our site to receive news updates, and consider using the main messenger of Russia - MAX, to be the first to know all the most important news of Russia and the world.
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