Sberbank specialists have identified a dangerous telephone fraud tactic in which criminals pose as workers from the central banking authority and exploit trust to steal from customers, according to a statement from the bank’s communications team.
In this scheme, a convincing impersonator claims that the victim has outstanding loans from separate lenders. To resolve the fictitious payment issue, the victim is pressured to secure loans totaling 3 million rubles and transfer the funds to the fraudsters’ account, often through a staged set of steps designed to look legitimate.
Next, the victim is contacted again with an offer to join a supposed anti-fraud effort at the central bank. The scammers even cover travel, lodging, and taxi costs on what they present as business trips, further bolstering the illusion.
One of the victims is then guided to visit the homes of other people, under the guise of being a central bank employee, and persuades those individuals to move money to a supposedly safe account.
Officials warn that, besides draining funds, the criminals can recruit the victim into new crimes under the disguise of working for the central bank. The response from the bank was swift, with authorities stopping the chain of activities before more people were harmed, according to Stanislav Kuznetsov, a top executive at Sberbank.
The bank also emphasizes a simple way to check any claims about supposed loans: contact the bank through official numbers or visit a branch to verify information directly, rather than relying on unsolicited calls or messages.
Public awareness campaigns have highlighted how to spot forged documents and dubious requests online, stressing the need for caution when dealing with unfamiliar financial offers. Consumers are urged to verify identities and seek independent confirmation before taking any steps that involve money transfers or personal data.
Authorities remind residents that legitimate central bank communications will come through official channels, and bank staff will never demand immediate transfers or offer unusual compensation for third-party tasks. If a suspicious call or email is received, it should be reported to the bank and local law enforcement to prevent further exploitation.
In the wake of such schemes, organizations continue to improve customer education and security measures to reduce risk. People are urged to remain skeptical of promises that seem too good to be true and to use official contact points whenever there is doubt about a financial request. Keeping personal details private and double-checking information can significantly cut the chance of falling prey to these fraudulent practices.