Scammers are calling you on the phone – what to do: types of fraud, new schemes, and ways to combat them

Contents:

• How telephone scammers operate
• What scenarios scammers use
• How to recognize telephone scammers
• How to protect yourself from telephone scammers
• What to do if you become a victim of fraud
• The main thing about telephone scammers

How telephone scammers operate

Scammers call on the phone (or write in instant messengers) and, under various pretexts, lure money or confidential data (card numbers, CVV codes, codes from SMS, logins/passwords from online banking, etc.).
During the conversation, the scammers can introduce themselves as employees of the police, a bank, a clinic, a telephone operator - practically anyone. Under various pretexts, they ask the person to dictate confidential data (for example, a code from an SMS) or convince them to transfer money to them. Often, victims not only give away their own savings, but also borrow from relatives and friends or take out loans.
As a rule, fraudsters have personal information of potential victims: full names, phone numbers, email addresses. They take this information from social networks, instant messengers, stolen databases or databases that have leaked onto the Internet.
We will discuss the schemes used by fraudsters and the measures to protect against them below.

What scenarios do fraudsters use?

Fraudsters have a lot of scenarios, and they are constantly coming up with new ones. It is impossible to describe them all, so we will look at several schemes that have become widespread recently.
1. "Bank / National Bank / KGB employee":

• Threat: "Your account is involved in money laundering/terrorist financing", "Card is compromised", "Attempt at unauthorized transfer".
• Requirement: "for security" to transfer money to a "special protected account", dictate card details (number, expiration date, CVV) or code from SMS.
• Goal: to steal money or gain access to online banking.

2. "Police / Investigative Committee / KGB officer":

• Threat: "A criminal case has been opened against you", "Your relative was in an accident / arrested, a bribe / bail is needed", "Criminals are using your information."
• Demand: "participate in a special operation" - buy cryptocurrency / gold, withdraw / transfer money, dictate codes. They forbid telling anyone ("investigative secrecy").
• Goal: intimidate, isolate the victim and steal money.

3. "Mobile operator employee (A1, MTS, life:)":

• Threat: "Your number will be blocked for sending spam/violating your tariff", "You need to renew your contract."
• Demand: provide personal information, codes from SMS (often for accessing the bank).
• Goal: gain access to the victim's accounts to steal funds or data.

4. "Social Services / Pension Fund / Hospital":

• Temptation/Threat: "You are entitled to additional payment/compensation", "I urgently need payment for urgent treatment of a relative", "Processing of documents/government services".
• Demand: provide passport/card details, dictate the code from the SMS, transfer money for "processing" or "services".
• Goal: steal money or confidential data.

5. "Relative/Acquaintance in Trouble":

• Emotions: "Getting into an accident/police call, urgently need money for a fine/treatment/bail." They call from an unknown number, the voice may be similar (or they use audio deepfake).
• Demand: urgently transfer a large sum to the specified details.
• Goal: steal money by exploiting the victim's feelings.

New schemes in Belarus:

• Calls "from IT companies" offering highly paid work and demanding "payment for equipment/software."
• "Blocking the banking application" - requiring codes to "unlock".
• Phishing under the guise of "updating data" to receive social benefits or allowances.
• Schemes with "investments", "trading", "quick money" (require first to make a deposit).

How to recognize telephone scammers

Today you can do almost everything online or by phone: make an appointment with a doctor, pay bills or purchases, sign documents. Therefore, calls supposedly from a clinic or bank don't seem unusual. However, it's important to remain vigilant and don't hesitate to verify information. Here are the signs that give away scammers in conversation.
They ask you to act quickly.Scammers always call for urgent reasons. For example, they say that if you don't renew your contract with your mobile operator, your number will be disconnected tomorrow and you won't be able to use it.
This trick is used so that the person doesn't have time to analyze what is happening and recognize the deception. If the person you're talking to persistently rushes you and pushes you to answer, it's most likely a scammer. They can't answer clarifying questions. During a conversation, scammers typically call people by name or mention other personal information, such as their date of birth. They get this information from leaked databases. But they can't know everything about their potential victim's life. We recommend asking for as many details as possible: if someone is calling you from a mobile operator, ask what your current tariff plan is or how much money you have left on your account. If someone is calling from a clinic, ask for the name of your primary care physician, the clinic's number, or the address of the clinic. You can ask the police officer for his name, rank, and station address and ask if you can go there in person.
They ask you not to tell anyone about the conversation.Fake "police officers" often do this. They may even cite a criminal offense under which you could be held liable if you tell anyone about what's happening.
A ban on communicating with family or colleagues is a clear sign that you are being contacted by scammers. Real law enforcement officers will never contact civilians by phone and ask them to participate in a covert operation.
They threaten criminal or administrative liability.During the conversation, scammers may vividly describe the dire consequences that will occur if the potential victim does not do as they ask. In particular, they may threaten fines or imprisonment.
This is also a clear sign of fraudulent activity. Until a person has been officially charged and proven to have committed illegal acts, he cannot face any punishment.
Don't be afraid of threatening words like "government agencies," "KGB," "security service," and others. They are used deliberately to cause a feeling of panic. Active intelligence officers always provide their information fully and clearly, are not afraid of inspections, and are understanding of your caution.
Furthermore, they will not communicate with you exclusively by phone. The police or the Investigative Committee may send a summons to your place of registration asking you to appear at the station, or they may appear in person and present documents.

How to protect yourself from telephone scammers

There are several basic rules that will help you avoid contact with scammers or recognize them in time. They seem elementary, they are often talked about, but nevertheless, they are the most effective.
1. Never tell anyone:

• Bank card details (number, expiration date, CVV).
• Codes from SMS (especially for confirming transactions).
• Passwords from online banking, mail.
• Code words from the bank.
• Remember: real employees of the bank, police, government agencies will NEVER ask for this phone!

2. Do not transfer money to strangers: neither at the request of a "bank", "police", "relative", nor for "earning money", "processing a payment" or "checking an account".
3. Check the information YOURSELF:

• Hang up? Call the organization back on the official number (found on the bank's website, the operator's website, in the directory).
• "Relative in trouble"? Call him/her directly on a number you know, contact through other relatives.
• Suspicious SMS? Do not click on links, do not call the numbers provided.

4. Turn on "cautious mode":

• Do not answer calls from unfamiliar numbers, especially those starting with international codes.
• Use anti-spam services:

1. Built-in antispam features on your smartphone (Android, iOS).
2. Operators (A1, MTS, life:) provide spam call filtering services.
5. Increase account security:

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere (bank, mail, social networks).
• Use complex, unique passwords.
• Do not save card details on websites/in browsers unless absolutely necessary.

6. Discuss with loved ones: tell elderly relatives about scammers' schemes. Agree on a "code word" for emergency situations.

What to do if you become a victim of fraud

If fraudsters still managed to steal money from you, here is what you need to do first.

Key to Telephone Scammers

• Scammers can be identified by a number of signs. If the caller asks for a one-time code or your personal information, asks you to act quickly, asks you not to tell anyone about the conversation, cannot answer clarifying questions, or threatens criminal or administrative liability, it is a scammer.
• To protect yourself from scammers, do not give out your personal information to anyone, do not click on suspicious links, and do not download suspicious files. In addition, you can do nothing but not answer calls from unknown numbers, call back the organization whose representative called you, and always consult with loved ones when in doubt.
• If you do become a victim of scammers, contact the police. You can also contact the bank and try to cancel the money transfer.