Scammers become more active ahead of February 23, using fake online stores and "gift delivery" schemes, Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, told RIA Novosti.
Most often, criminals create websites and social media accounts that outwardly resemble major brands, offering "exclusive" discounts on gadgets, military paraphernalia, perfume, and certificates. After payment, the product either never arrives, or a counterfeit is sent with no possibility of return.
The second scheme is connected with gift delivery: people receive calls or messages supposedly on behalf of courier services, marketplaces, or flower delivery services, and are asked to confirm an address or pay a "token fee," while scammers extract SMS codes, card details, or access to accounts. This allows fraudsters to gain full control over the victim's money and profiles.
Separately, criminals use military imagery, sending requests to "support the fighters for the holiday" or to "pay for delivery of a parcel to the front." In such cases, the money goes directly to the scammers rather than to charity.
The member of the relevant State Duma committee advises maintaining digital hygiene: do not trust calls and messages asking you to urgently confirm something, and check website addresses and sellers' contact details. He also recommends enabling two-factor authentication and transfer limits, getting a separate card for online purchases, and activating a self-ban on loans. If in doubt, it is easier to refuse the transaction or call the company back using its official number.
Read more materials on the topic:
- A new scam scheme: how snowfalls turned into a threat for Russians
- Roskomnadzor blocked more than 4.7 million internet resources: statistics by categories of prohibited content published
- Criminals use fake employer applications to infect devices
