The key facts
- Phone fraudsters exploit the FPS topic: under the pretext of 'suspicious transfers' they demand an SMS code or the installation of a program
- A malicious application gives attackers remote access to the smartphone
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasizes: real bank employees do not request codes and do not ask to install third-party applications
A new trick used by phone scammers
Phone scammers have adopted a new scenario: they intimidate Russians with the blocking of transfers via the Faster Payments System (FPS) in order to gain access to their bank accounts. This became known from materials of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which TASS quotes; details are also reported by Life.ru.
How the scheme works
The fraudsters call the victim and pose as bank employees. They claim that the system has detected suspicious transfers via the FPS and demand that the person urgently undergo a 'verification' — otherwise they face blocked transfers or bank accounts. Under the pretext of confirming a transaction, they ask the victim to dictate a code from an SMS. The second option is an offer to install a 'security check program': in reality, this is a malicious application that can give the attackers remote access to the device.
How it ends and how to spot the scam
Having obtained the codes or control over the smartphone, the criminals can steal money from the accounts. They deliberately create a sense of urgency so that the victim does not have time to verify the information. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded that real bank employees never ask for SMS codes or request the installation of third-party applications during a phone call.
Context
Earlier, Life.ru described another scheme because of which resellers of used cars risk losing both their money and their cars: before the deal, the sellers take out a loan against the car at an understated price, and after receiving the money they report to the police that they themselves were victims of fraudsters who forced them to sell the vehicle.
