Fraudsters have started using a callback scheme to steal money.

      March 22, 2026 18:00 Incidents A new fraudulent practice has been recorded in Russia, where criminals attempt to steal money from citizens using the so-called "reverse call." According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, provided to TASS, the criminals send messages via SMS, messengers, or email. They claim that an account on the "Gosuslugi" portal has allegedly been hacked and that urgent measures need to be taken. The victim is then convinced that to protect their account, they must contact support at the phone number provided in the message. This way, the person is pushed to independently reach out to the fraudsters. The police explained that during the conversation, the criminals use social engineering methods. Their goal is to obtain a confirmation code from the victim for access to the "Gosuslugi" account, as well as bank card details or other confidential information. The agency recommends not responding to such messages and not calling back the numbers provided. They emphasized that employees of government and financial organizations do not ask citizens to contact them via mobile phones. It was previously revealed that fraudsters have started to disguise viruses as "useful" materials (free e-books, guides, etc.). After opening or downloading such a file, the criminals can gain full remote control over the device. This way, they gain access to the user's banking applications, SMS messages, and phone management. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+