Sberbank disclosed details of how a sophisticated fraud attempt was thwarted, where attackers posed as a company executive and pressed a client to act quickly. The incident highlighted a growing tactic where scammers use a fake boss persona and a purported intelligence official to manipulate victims, prompting urgent transfers that would bypass routine checks. The bank reported this through its communications channel, noting that the attempted scheme involved a transfer request aimed at enabling a fund movement that would look legitimate on the surface. According to the bank’s account, the client became aware of the manipulation in time, and the bank’s security personnel stepped in to prevent the loss. The total sum involved in the aborted operation reached 12 million rubles, a figure that underscores the high stakes and the potential impact of such deception. The bank described the sequence of events as a carefully staged enterprise designed to exploit trust and organizational hierarchy, making the ruse appear as an official request coming from within the client’s own professional environment. The client’s decision to seek urgent closure of deposits, coupled with unusual behavior during the conversation, triggered the bank’s security alert and initiated an internal review. In the end, the client avoided a significant financial loss, and the incident served as a proof point of effective fraud detection and response. (Source: Sberbank press service)
From the bank’s perspective, the scenario unfolded as follows: the fraudsters located the victim’s place of work online, constructed a convincing Telegram profile for a fictitious company head, and conducted calls that appeared to originate from that individual. The impostor asserted that he was connected to the Federal Security Service and claimed that an auditor from the same agency was involved in the exchange. The fake curator then conveyed the alarming message that the client’s funds were in danger and needed to be moved to a protected account. This layered deception aimed to create urgency and reduce the likelihood of impulse resistance. Sberbank emphasized that the client accepted the premise of an imminent threat and acted under the impression that a formal, high-level directive was at stake. The bank’s response focused on rapid verification steps and containment actions to prevent the transfer and preserve the client’s assets. (Source: Sberbank press service)
Earlier communications from Sberbank highlighted a separate success where a substantial recovery was achieved, with 160 million rubles reportedly returned to a single customer. This outcome was attributed to the attentiveness of SberFirst premium service staff and the vigilance of Sberbank security personnel, who intervened promptly in a similar scenario. The case illustrated the bank’s commitment to safeguarding client funds through proactive monitoring, rapid escalation, and coordinated action across security teams. (Source: Sberbank press service)
Commenting on the incident, Stanislav Kuznetsov, deputy chairman of Sberbank, noted that branch employees are equipped with clear, actionable instructions for fraud prevention. He highlighted that regular training helps staff recognize subtle cues indicating a client may be under external influence. Kuznetsov stressed that Sberbank’s fraud prevention platform, along with the diligence of frontline personnel, is designed to intercept fraudulent activity before it can cause financial harm. The remarks underscored a multi-layered defense model that combines technology with human vigilance to protect customers. (Source: Sberbank press service)
The bank’s broader message remains a reminder of practical safety measures customers can adopt: verify any unusual requests through independent channels, avoid sharing sensitive information over unverified lines, and pause to confirm the legitimacy of urgent transfers with a trusted contact inside the organization. Sberbank reiterated that staff are trained to detect signs of social engineering and that a culture of proactive risk management is in place to prevent incidents from escalating. The overarching takeaway is clear—maintaining a healthy skepticism about sudden, high-pressure financial instructions is a crucial habit for all clients. (Source: Sberbank press service)