The Cyberpolice have issued an official warning to citizens about a new wave of large-scale telephone scams. Criminals are mass-calling people, posing as law enforcement officers, and reporting fabricated legal problems involving their relatives. The main goal of the criminals is to intimidate the victim and force them to urgently transfer a large sum of money to supposedly resolve the issue.
Classic Fraud Scenarios
The most common scheme remains the classic scenario known as «relative in trouble.» Fraudsters convince the victim that their loved one has allegedly caused a serious traffic accident, a fight, or another grave crime. To avoid criminal prosecution, the citizen is demanded to immediately transfer funds to specified accounts, hand over cash via a courier or taxi driver. In some cases, scammers approach from another angle, threatening criminal prosecution against the interlocutor themselves due to supposedly suspicious financial transactions or purchases.
Psychological Pressure and Data Leaks
To achieve the maximum level of persuasiveness, criminals use social engineering methods and pre-collected information. They may quote real personal data, home addresses, workplaces, and the names of specific law enforcement agencies. Experts emphasize that the caller having accurate information about you or your relatives does not mean that you are actually speaking to a law enforcement representative. Law enforcement agencies never demand money over the phone to close criminal cases.
Real Examples and Criminal Cynicism
The cynicism of criminals knows no bounds, and their victims often include the most vulnerable categories of population, including military families. In April, law enforcement officers stopped the activities of a cynical fraudster in Kamianets-Podilskyi. The criminal managed to extort over a million hryvnias from the mother of a fallen soldier, cynically hiding behind a fake ID of a law enforcement officer.
How to Protect Yourself and Loved Ones
Security experts urge citizens to follow basic rules of digital and financial hygiene. Upon receiving such a call, you must immediately hang up and independently contact the relative in question or contact the official police department. It is strictly forbidden to give strangers cash, bank card details, passwords, or secret codes from SMS messages. Vigilance and critical thinking are the best ways to protect your savings and nerves.
