Phone scammers are the most dangerous con artists: how to talk to them correctly?

      April 28, 2026 18:00 Society Phone scammers are constantly improving their deception methods to extract confidential codes from SMS messages. Fraud prevention expert Ekaterina Dub told 360.ru that scammers often call on behalf of government agencies and ask for the numbers from SMS for verification. They use various tricks, including creating phishing websites that promise new payments or legal assistance.

      How do scammers operate?

      Phishing websites often use themes related to family payments to attract the attention of potential victims. However, their goal is not only to obtain small amounts but also to make the person disclose their personal information.

      Phone calls pose a greater danger. One common scenario is a call from a clinic, where a pleasant voice offers to undergo a routine health check and take a blood test. Then the scammers ask for a one-time password from the SMS.

      Ekaterina Dub explains that the goal of such calls is not just to obtain the code but to completely drain the victim's bank account. After that, the scammers begin to psychologically pressure the person to take out loans or sell property.

      The most dangerous scam schemes

      Criminals continue to use old, proven methods, such as the deception involving intercom replacement. However, their main goal remains unchanged: to obtain the code from the SMS and begin a psychological attack on the victim.

      One of the most common schemes is a message stating that unknown individuals are transferring money to Ukraine using the victim's documents. Scammers send fake powers of attorney and offer to transfer funds to a "safe account" or "safe deposit box." They may pose as employees of the military prosecutor's office, the Central Bank, or other agencies.

      Ekaterina Dub emphasizes that phone scammers are the most dangerous among all types of fraudsters. Their goal is to strip the victim bare. They use psychological techniques such as intimidation and pressure to force the person to give up all their money.

      Scammers work in teams to mislead the victim and achieve their goal. They may call on behalf of various organizations, including MFCs, where they offer to conduct a population census and ask to confirm data from SMS.

      How to expose scammers?

      Criminals use databases for mass calling, so they are not targeting a specific person. However, if someone falls for the bait, they begin to study their life in detail: address, marital status, property, and other assets.

      "People who are rational, educated, and even PhDs have fallen for this, as well as teachers. So regardless of education, a person can fall for this scheme," the expert explained.

      Ekaterina Dub advises asking as many questions as possible to expose the scammers. It is worth inquiring in detail about the call's specifics, addresses of social funds, names of children and spouses, and other personal data. Scammers begin to get nervous, confused, and make mistakes, which can help expose them.

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