Cases of fraud in the WhatsApp messenger have become more frequent in Russia. Users are receiving fake notifications about urgent account verification or the need to install "updates", Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, told RIA Novosti.
The deputy explained that the restriction of WhatsApp's operation in Russia has created a "window of opportunity" for criminals. Scammers use users' fear of losing access to correspondence and data by sending notifications about account blocking, chat transfer, or installation of a "new version" of the messenger. In practice, this leads to account theft, access to contacts, and financial losses.
Nemkin noted that the platform itself is largely responsible for such risks. WhatsApp has long become a convenient environment for fraudsters due to its closed nature, weak response to appeals from Russian users, and lack of transparent mechanisms for interacting with government agencies.
