In the first quarter of 2023, a significant rise in bank fraud was recorded, with criminals stealing 4.5 billion rubles from customers. This figure was disclosed in materials published on the Central Bank’s website.
During that period, the total losses from fraud reached 4.5 billion rubles, marking a 36% increase from the same timeframe the previous year, when 3.3 billion rubles were stolen. The volume of non-consensual transactions (BCC) declined slightly by 2%, totaling 252.1 thousand incidents.
The official publication noted that customers could recover only 4.3% of the stolen funds. Yet Russian banks successfully repelled more than 2.7 million cyber-fraud attempts against customer accounts from January through March, preventing thefts amounting to 712 billion rubles through proactive defense measures.
Aleksey Golenishchev, head of the Central Bank’s information security department, observed that criminals are shifting their tactics. Robbers increasingly focus on remote access to banking services, where, beyond stealing money, attackers may persuade victims to lend money or quickly withdraw funds obtained through deceptive means.
In mid-February, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation reported a notable change: the number of cases involving money theft from bank accounts in Russia decreased for the first time in seven years, dropping by 15.31% to 877 thousand cases. Meanwhile, scam activity grew by 4.29%, reaching 14.2 billion rubles in losses.
The data highlight evolving crime patterns in the financial sector, underscoring the importance of robust customer education, heightened security monitoring, and faster incident response to limit financial harm from fraud. Banks emphasize layered defenses, including transaction monitoring, real-time anomaly detection, multi-factor authentication, and user-awareness campaigns to help customers protect accounts and respond swiftly to suspicious requests.
Overall, the quarter showcased a dual trend: a reduction in some thefts through strengthened defenses, paired with a rise in remote-access scams that exploit digital channels. This combination calls for ongoing vigilance from financial institutions and the public alike, as cybercriminals continually adapt their methods to exploit new opportunities and gaps in security. Stakeholders stress the need for clear reporting, timely alerts, and user-friendly resources that empower customers to safeguard their funds while maintaining trust in the banking system.