Russian citizens are now facing a sophisticated new fraudulent scheme that exploits the pretext of doorbell system replacement, according to Daniil Borislavsky, Product Director for Information Security at “Kontur.Egida” (Staffcop). He revealed details of this scam in a recent interview.
According to the IT expert, scammers are telephoning Russians, posing as representatives of a “national service.” They inform residents about an alleged upcoming modernization of the doorbell system in their building, claiming it`s coordinated with the building management company. Victims are promised free replacement keys, asked to specify the number of keys needed, and instructed to collect them on a Friday morning. The fraudsters even add seemingly mundane details, such as requesting cash if more than three keys are required, or using phrases like “the technician will register them.”
“The primary goal of these calls is to extract an SMS verification code,” explains Daniil Borislavsky. “The scammer claims that a code, supposedly sent from the `Gosuslugi` (State Services) portal, is required for apartment access and asks the victim to dictate it. They justify this by stating that all doorbell systems are now being integrated into a `unified system.` ”
“This is a classic example of a social engineering attack,” Borislavsky emphasized. “The obtained SMS code can be used for unauthorized access to your personal account on `Gosuslugi,` online banking, or other critical services. It’s important to remember that neither technicians nor building management staff will ever request SMS codes, especially under the guise of `linking a doorbell system.` ”
The expert noted that the conversation is conducted calmly and without any pressure, which is a key element of its danger. This deceptive tactic does not immediately raise suspicion, causing people to easily drop their guard and fall victim.
He strongly recommended never to share any codes with strangers, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and always thoroughly verify the legitimacy of such calls. The most reliable method is to contact your building management company directly via their official phone number to confirm any information regarding maintenance or upgrades.
It was also recently revealed that another new scam scheme has emerged, this one related to obtaining Schengen visas, highlighting a broader trend of sophisticated fraud attempts.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield