In Russia, there has been a notable increase in fraudulent activities where criminals impersonate military recruitment offices to deceive citizens. According to Vadim Vinogradov, Dean of the Faculty of Law at HSE University, individuals are receiving phone calls with urgent requests to verify or update their personal data, ostensibly linked to the rollout of a unified electronic conscription register.
During these conversations, callers prompt the recipient to disclose an SMS code, falsely claiming it is necessary for identity verification. In reality, this code is used by fraudsters to gain unauthorized access to the victim`s personal account on the `Gosuslugi` (public services) portal. Professor Vinogradov highlighted that young citizens, particularly students, are especially vulnerable to this scheme. They often receive calls from individuals posing as university or dean`s office staff, who then state they are acting on behalf of the military commissariat and insist on a `data check` due to purported technical malfunctions.
Vinogradov emphasized that any attempt by an unknown caller to obtain a verification code over the phone is a clear indicator of a scam. To mitigate risks, he urged heightened caution when receiving such calls. He advised that all requests concerning personal data should be independently re-verified directly through official services and established contact channels.
In conclusion, Vinogradov recommended implementing additional security measures, including enabling two-factor authentication, subscribing to call filtering services offered by mobile operators, and regularly monitoring activity within personal accounts on government platforms.
Beyond military recruitment scams, another fraudulent scheme targeting Russians renting accommodation has come to light. One victim, a nurse, reportedly lost over 30,000 rubles.
Furthermore, a scam involving the replacement of домофон (intercom) keys is gaining traction. Perpetrators convince residents that their building door can be unlocked using a special four-digit code, which they then solicit under the pretext of system registration.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield