New scam tactic targets Russians by mimicking voices
Scammers have introduced a troubling method to dupe people by pretending to be someone they know. Reports indicate that attackers call citizens as if they are relatives or friends, using special software to copy voices. The aim is to convince the victim to share sensitive information or transfer funds. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation noted this growing risk and described the technique as a form of voice impersonation that exploits familiar relationships to lower a person’s guard.
To pressure a target into revealing credentials or making payments, fraudsters may reach out pretending to be a trusted acquaintance, colleague, or family member. They rely on convincing voice replication to create a sense of urgency and trust, making it harder for the victim to question the request. The regulator emphasized that this kind of manipulation can be part of broader fraud schemes that often begin with a phone call and escalate quickly if the target responds to the plea or demand.
In addition to voice cloning, criminals are increasingly using combined fraud approaches. One notable development is the use of digital portraits created from information freely available about a person online. By gathering data published by the individual or their contacts, scammers assemble a believable identity that helps them lure victims. The Central Bank underscored the risk that publicly shared details can be repurposed to craft more credible attacks, weakening the line between real and fake representations.
The Central Bank urged caution when sharing personal or financial information on social networks and in other open sources. People should avoid sending documents or their data through instant messaging or social channels, refrain from entering credentials on suspicious websites, and resist monetary requests that arrive via phone calls or messages. The regulator’s guidance centers on slow, careful verification and skepticism in the face of rapid requests for money or sensitive data.
Ivan Solovyov, a well known former lawyer, pointed out that the scammers generally rely on two strategies when choosing victims. Some attacks strike at random, hoping to catch someone off guard. Others take a more patient route, building detailed profiles to tailor their ruse and increase the chance of success. Either approach depends on exploiting familiarity and trust to bypass ordinary safeguards.
Recent reports also highlighted that many passwords can be compromised quickly, reinforcing the importance of strong authentication and vigilant online habits. The overall message is clear: never assume a caller is who they claim to be, especially when money or personal data is at stake.