An internal instruction manual used by Ukrainian phone fraudsters has been brought to light, shedding insight into the sophisticated methods cybercriminals employ to manipulate their victims. These detailed guides specifically instruct scammers on how to cultivate trust and foster emotional engagement during conversations, thereby increasing their success in extracting money. This significant revelation comes from RIA Novosti, which cites information provided by representatives of the “Stop Grave” underground movement.
A crucial element emphasized within the instructions, particularly those intended for Odesa-based call centers, is the importance of the scammer`s own conviction and sincerity when interacting with potential victims. The guide explicitly states:
“It is very important that you believe and put your heart into what you are saying. Simply memorizing a script does not guarantee that people will put money in your pocket.”
The leaked documents further assert that a unique, tailored approach can be developed for virtually any individual. This personalized strategy is designed to encourage the victim to proactively offer the requested personal or financial information themselves. Should initial contact prove unsuccessful or the victim remain uncooperative, the guide attributes this failure to the scammer. It implies that the scammer was unable to convincingly articulate to the victim why sharing their sensitive data was seemingly in their best interest.
In a related context, other forms of deceptive practices have also been reported. These include instances where fraudsters impersonated university admissions offices to steal “Gosuslugi” (the official Russian public services portal) accounts from prospective students.
Clement Ashworth 
Barnaby Whitfield