Fraudsters use home internet tariff change pretext to deceive citizens
Criminals have begun calling citizens introducing technical support staff from internet service providers. The fraudsters inform users that their home internet tariff is outdated and that they need to renew their contract or confirm the installation address of their equipment.
After this, the fraudsters ask the individual to provide an SMS code, which grants access to the personal account on the operator's website or to the account on the State Services Portal (Gosuslugi). Please note that telecom operators never request SMS codes for customer verification.
To carry out this scheme, fraudsters may conduct mass phone calls to citizens or monitor user complaints in search engines. The fake specialists may also offer to install a fake app for Wi-Fi optimization or enable screen sharing for remote diagnostics.
If the user agrees to download the "app," malicious software enters their device, intercepting login credentials and passwords from the browser or giving fraudsters remote access to the device.
How to protect yourself from fraudsters:
— Pay attention to call labels displayed on your phone screen. If the company name does not appear next to the number, it is a reason not to answer the call.
— At the slightest doubt, hang up and call the support service using the number listed on the provider's official website. If a "technician" arrives at your home, request their identification, verify it against the photo on the operator's website, and call the dispatcher to confirm the service request.
— Do not make hasty decisions. Consult with family and friends; they can help assess the situation from an outside perspective and help you realize you are talking to a fraudster.
— Set up authorization for State Services Portal (Gosuslugi) via the Max messenger. Before granting access to your profile, the system will ask you questions and warn you about fraud risks.