Telephone fraudsters have devised a novel method to trick Russian citizens into surrendering their Gosuslugi (Public Services) portal passwords. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, this scam involves a fabricated claim about registering a new intercom code for apartment buildings.
Sources indicate that cybercriminals initiate contact with victims, pretending that their building`s intercom system is being replaced. The caller provides the supposed name and phone number of a technician who is scheduled to deliver a new intercom key shortly.
The scammer then persuades the victim that the building`s entrance can now be accessed via a special code. Shortly after, the caller sends this code and requests the victim to read it aloud, ostensibly for system registration. Unknowingly, the victim then provides their Gosuslugi login credentials directly to the fraudsters.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs urges the public not to disclose any codes or passwords to anyone and to remain wary of unsolicited calls, emphasizing the importance of verifying any such requests through official channels.
In related news, a new scam targeting pensioners has recently emerged. This scheme involves fraudsters convincing elderly individuals that they need to “complete a questionnaire” for re-testing medical analyses, aiming to extract personal information under false pretenses.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield