Speaking on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Stanislav Kuznetsov, deputy chairman of the bank’s board of directors, revealed that Sberbank plans to roll out a new product designed to shield customers from fraudsters who operate through messaging apps. The release is slated for the coming weeks, signaling a proactive move from the lender as it seeks to strengthen user protections in a digital era where scams via chat platforms are increasingly common.
Kuznetsov emphasized that Sberbank has built a customer protection solution that will be unveiled soon. The aim is to address a growing trend where criminals craft counterfeit messages in instant messengers to engage users, influence participation in online contests, and prompt actions that compromise device security. When followers heed these suspicious instructions, their devices may download malicious software, enabling fraudsters to siphon data and potentially blackmail victims with the gathered information.
The executive noted that this form of fraud is flourishing, underscoring the urgency for effective defenses. The situation underscores the evolving tactics used by criminals to exploit trust in digital communications and the need for robust verification, user awareness, and rapid reaction mechanisms within financial services.
The VIII Eastern Economic Forum is scheduled to take place from September 10 to 13 in Vladivostok, hosted by the Far Eastern Federal University campus. This event serves as a showcase for regional economic initiatives and fintech innovations, including security enhancements that institutions like Sberbank are pursuing to protect customers across the country.
Kuznetsov joined Sberbank in late September with a clear mandate to advance digital security. The forthcoming system will leverage artificial intelligence to disseminate protective measures nationwide, aiming to curb the influence of deceptive calls and messages from fraudsters. By applying intelligent analytics and behavior monitoring, the platform seeks to identify suspicious activity, warn users in real time, and prevent unauthorized access to personal data. The initiative reflects a broader industry push toward smarter, proactive defense against social engineering and tech-enabled scams, reinforcing customer trust and safeguarding financial transactions. This direction aligns with the bank’s commitment to responsible innovation and secure digital banking experiences for citizens in Canada and the United States who rely on reliable financial services.
Attribution: Information summarized from a Sberbank briefing associated with the Eastern Economic Forum, reflecting the bank’s stated strategy to deploy AI-powered safeguards against messaging-based fraud.