A new wave of scams is targeting Russian citizens, where fraudsters impersonate local precinct police officers and offer “protection” via provided phone numbers. This warning comes from the “Russian Cyber Police Herald” Telegram channel, highlighting a sophisticated scheme designed to trick victims into financial transfers.
The scheme typically begins with a scammer contacting the victim, identifying themselves as a local police officer. They inform the victim about a supposed “group of fraudsters” that has been uncovered and provide a number to call for “safeguarding” their assets. This initial contact aims to establish trust and create a sense of urgency and vulnerability.
Subsequently, the victim receives another call, this time from a different number, where they are subjected to intimidation tactics aimed at coercing them into transferring funds. The ultimate objective is to manipulate them into believing they need to act quickly to “protect” themselves from the fictitious threat.
“The imposter on the phone then provides the victim with detailed instructions on how to `secure` their money. Victims are led to believe that criminals have been identified, and by simply following these instructions, they can assist in their apprehension. Ultimately, this leads to victims transferring their money directly to the perpetrators,” stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasizing the deceptive nature of these instructions.
This follows previous reports of phone scammers employing a different tactic, where they coerced Russians into purchasing valuable jewelry and then handing it over to couriers. These incidents underscore the evolving and diverse methods cybercriminals use to defraud the public. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and verify the identity of callers, especially those requesting financial actions.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield