Roskachestvo has reported a new type of fraud related to Visa and Mastercard cards. Attackers have begun sending SMS messages, supposedly from Sberbank, stating that the full functionality of the cards has been restored, including the ability to make cross-border payments.
The messages urge recipients to undergo urgent "validation" of their card by clicking on a link. This link leads to a fake website where fraudsters ask for personal data. After that, the scammers steal personal information. They can gain access to the victims' bank accounts.
Roskachestvo also warns that clicking on the link may lead to the download of malicious software onto the device. The attackers are using the restrictions imposed on Visa and Mastercard in early 2022 to create the appearance of authenticity in their messages.
Sergey Kuzmenko, head of the Digital Expertise Center at Roskachestvo, noted that there have been no official announcements about the resumption of Visa and Mastercard operations. He also emphasized that neither Sberbank nor other financial institutions send SMS messages asking recipients to click on a link or install software.
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