Спрос на аренду аккаунтов в мессенджере MAX растёт в даркнете: предлагают до 250 долларов

The practice of renting accounts is actively spreading in the Russian messenger MAX. Up to a thousand advertisements for the temporary provision of accounts for $10–250 are published daily on shadow forums. The scheme is similar to the practice previously used in WhatsApp. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has confirmed cases of fraudsters using rented accounts to call Russians.

Attackers offer users to transfer their phone number and authorization code to MAX, receiving an hourly reward. Most often, schoolchildren and students become tenants. "Cases are isolated, but the potential for growth is significant," the Ministry of Internal Affairs notes. In August, the MAX security center blocked about 67,000 suspicious accounts and removed more than 13,000 malicious files, mainly related to spam mailings.

To combat fraudsters, the messenger uses automated systems, including number verification in conjunction with Kaspersky Lab and anti-fraud technologies from Sber.

Stanislav Kuznetsov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, said that 9% of all fraudulent calls in Russia are made to MAX. According to experts, by the end of 2026, the share of calls via messenger may grow to 15–18%, and with an aggressive scenario — up to 20–22%.

From September 1, 2025, the transfer of accounts and SIM cards to third parties for material gain is prohibited in Russia. Violators face an administrative fine of up to 700 thousand rubles, and in case of participation in fraudulent schemes — criminal liability of up to two years of imprisonment.

Read more materials on the topic:

The first cases of fraud in the Max messenger were identified by MTS specialists

Max Messenger continues to attract fraudsters: the first cases are now in Yekaterinburg

New fraudulent scheme: the Ministry of Internal Affairs warned about the risks of transferring your accounts for rent