MegaFon’s Director of Fraud and Revenue Prevention, Sergei Khrenov, highlighted a sharp rise in fraudulent pranks circulating on instant messengers at the end of January in Russia. The warning underscores a pattern that has been building for some time, but recently intensified as scammers sharpened their methods and broadened their reach. The core message from Khrenov is clear: conventional fraud schemes are evolving, exploiting the trust people place in familiar messaging platforms to lure victims into dangerous traps. [Source: DEA News]
Experts note that scammer playbooks are not entirely new. They have relied on familiar social-engineering tactics before, yet the current wave of fake pranks shows a heightened level of sophistication and persistence. The transition from simple phishing attempts to more elaborate schemes reflects scammers’ understanding that repeated exposure increases the chance of user engagement and eventual payoff. [Source: DEA News]
According to Khrenov, the classic setup involves sending a message via email or instant messaging that invites the recipient to join a large brand’s giveaway. The user is offered three chances to guess which game cell hides the prize, with the trap designed so that the final attempt appears crucial to unlock the reward. The goal is to trigger curiosity and a sense of urgency, pushing victims to participate despite instinctive caution. [Source: DEA News]
The expert explained that scammers try to inflate the perceived value by displaying prizes in foreign currencies. After the user wins, the breach deepens as attackers push for converting the prize into rubles at a nominal rate. In practice, the scheme funnels money, card details, and access rights from the victim to the attacker after the financial information is entered and the transaction is confirmed. The end result is financial loss, compromised payment data, and ongoing vulnerability to further fraud. [Source: DEA News]
Igor Bederov, previously the Head of Information and Analytics Research at T.Hunter and a commentator on socialbites.ca, noted a shift toward telephone-based intimidation using instant messengers. The conversations often claim to expose threats from pardoned members of the Wagner PMC, aiming to sow fear and induce hasty compliance. The messaging campaigns leverage the notoriety of national security concerns to blur lines between legitimate authorities and impostors. [Source: DEA News]
Reports indicate that the most frequent channels for these calls are popular apps such as WhatsApp and Viber. Scammers impersonate police officers and warn that pardoned individuals who joined the SVO as part of the PMC could pose a danger to children. The tactic relies on authority figures and alarming scenarios to coerce victims into revealing sensitive information or transferring funds. [Source: DEA News]
To mitigate risk, cybersecurity professionals advise users to verify unexpected messages through official channels, avoid sharing personal or financial information in response to unsolicited outreach, and scrutinize requests for transfers or conversions that seem irregular. Markers of credibility, such as official branding, contact details, and cross-checkable identifiers, should prompt a pause rather than immediate action. If doubt remains, a quick call to the supposed organization using publicly listed numbers is a prudent step. [Source: DEA News]
Public awareness campaigns emphasize the importance of layered verification, including two-factor authentication, monitoring for unusual payment activity, and reporting suspected scams to service providers. Education about common red flags—time pressure, offers that seem too good to be true, and requests to disclose personal data—helps reduce susceptibility across the user base. In practice, a cautious user can disrupt scammers’ momentum by slowing down decision-making and seeking independent confirmation. [Source: DEA News]