Scammers in Moscow Steal Personal Data Through Fake Surveys and ‘City Day’ Payments

Dragon Media News Desk

Fraudsters in Moscow are attempting to steal residents’ personal data by offering fake online surveys, cash prizes and supposed one-time payments linked to City Day celebrations.

According to Masharov, a member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, the scammers send SMS messages disguised as notifications from the Gosuslugi state services portal and multifunctional public service centers, or MFCs.

The messages direct users to fraudulent links and ask them to enter personal information. Victims are then told that, in order to receive the promised payment or prize, they must verify their identity through Gosuslugi or a banking application.

Scammers subsequently ask victims to provide verification codes sent to their phones. Sharing such codes can allow criminals to gain access to online accounts, personal information or banking services.

Authorities have warned residents not to provide passwords, verification codes or other confidential information to unknown callers or message senders and to avoid opening suspicious links claiming to offer government payments or financial rewards.