Scammers Deceive Russian Servicemen with New Trick

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Fraudsters Distribute Bogus Award Orders to Military Personnel

Fraudsters are attempting to extract sensitive information from Russian servicemen by sending them fabricated award orders. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), through its Telegram channel “Russian Cyberpolice Herald,” reported this new deceptive tactic targeting military personnel.

The ministry indicated that these scammers contact servicemen posing as representatives of a fictitious awards department. The MVD warned that “under the guise of `data clarification` or `document completion,` they aim to identify officers from battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions, and acquire other confidential information.”

It was also stressed that engaging with unknown individuals via messaging applications always carries significant risks. The ministry clarified that such interactions can lead to the proliferation of malicious software, phishing attempts, and the unauthorized collection of personal and official data.

“Any leakage of official information can have serious repercussions, not only for an individual but also for an entire military unit,” the MVD further elaborated.

Previously, reports emerged that scammers had begun sending malicious files to families of Russian servicemen, falsely claiming affiliation with the Red Cross. These fraudsters reportedly offered an application, ostensibly to assist in locating military personnel involved in special operations among prisoners of war.

Even before this, it was reported that criminals were employing a common “safe account” scam to defraud Russian servicemen and their relatives. Military personnel and their families were advised to terminate any suspicious conversations immediately and to contact their bank directly for any financial inquiries or concerns.