A 12-year-old boy in Dzerzhinsk believed he had won a contest and handed his parents’ money to scammers to collect the prize, a report from the Regional Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia notes. The department described how an unknown sender reached the student with a message claiming a prize and urged him to participate by taking a photo of his parents’ bank card with all the necessary details. Trusting the fraudster, the child followed the instructions, and it was later revealed that 20 thousand rubles had been deducted from the mother’s account. The case has been opened under the fraud article, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities treat social engineering attacks. This incident highlights how quickly a child can become entangled in a scam when confronted with a seemingly legitimate prize and how essential it is for families to monitor online activity and verify the legitimacy of any prize offers. Source: Regional Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
According to information from the same department, an unidentified person sent a letter to the student claiming he had won a prize. The attacker convinced the child that to receive the reward he needed to photograph his parents’ bank card with all the specified information. The boy believed the fraudster and complied with the instructions. This pattern of deception relies on urgency and credibility, a common feature of online scams. It serves as a reminder that children should never share financial data or images of cards, and that parents must review any prize offers before the child engages. The incident shows how quickly such schemes move from claim to deduction, with limited time frames and emotional appeals used to push for hasty actions. When the initial claim is believed, funds can disappear from linked accounts before adults can intervene. Investigations continue, and the case is treated as fraud by local authorities.
Earlier, a 23-year-old woman in Karelia received an apartment from a colleague via a messenger and handed money to scammers. The attackers sent her a video message and urged her to borrow money until the evening. The use of video content and direct messaging creates a persuasive impression, making the offer feel tangible and urgent. This type of social engineering preys on dreams of housing and quick gains, pressuring victims to act fast without proper verification. Experts note that even ordinary exchanges in messaging apps can hide sophisticated fraud, so verification with trusted contacts and direct inquiries to official channels are critical steps to prevent loss. The Karelia case illustrates how trust, familiarity, and a sense of urgency can drive people to part with cash through seemingly simple tasks.
In another incident, a Moscow woman is reported to hold more than seven million rubles and has used disguises such as a priest and a security guard to influence targets. This case demonstrates how impersonation and authority figures are exploited to gain trust and elicit money or sensitive information. Authorities advise pausing before responding to sudden requests and verifying claims directly with the organization or individual involved through official contact channels. The breadth of these schemes is being actively investigated by the regional police, and readers are reminded that similar fraud patterns have appeared in other regions as well. Awareness and careful verification remain the best defense against these tactics, which rely on confidence, urgency, and authority to persuade victims. The Regional Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia continues to monitor such cases closely and emphasizes reporting any suspicious activity promptly.