Fraudsters are now exploiting data from the Rosreestr (Russian Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre, and Cartography) to defraud Russian citizens. Denis Kalemberg, an expert, revealed details of this new elaborate scam in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to Kalemberg, these criminals access the Rosreestr database to identify properties owned by potential victims. They then contact the individuals, claiming an urgent need to inspect utility meters at their address, and subsequently request a verification code sent via SMS to confirm the appointment. This initial step is designed to gain the victim`s trust and obtain a critical piece of information.
Following this, the victim receives a notification, often via SMS, reporting a supposed login attempt on their `Gosuslugi` (State Services) portal account. The message deceptively instructs the user to call a specific phone number if they did not initiate the login. If the victim calls, they are connected directly to the fraudsters, who then continue the deception. The criminals may attempt to convince the victim to transfer funds to a supposed `safe` account or trick them into installing malicious software on their device, which would grant the scammers unauthorized access to their finances.
The expert strongly advises Russians to never share SMS verification codes with anyone, regardless of who claims to be on the other end. If there is any doubt about the legitimacy of a call or message, he recommends contacting the organization directly using their official, publicly listed phone numbers, rather than any number provided in a suspicious message.
Previously, the Ministry of Internal Affairs outlined five key rules for protecting against fraud. Among these crucial guidelines, citizens were specifically warned against calling any phone numbers provided in suspicious SMS messages, a recommendation that remains highly pertinent in light of this new scheme.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield