The lecture was delivered by Police Lieutenant Maxim Golovkin, an investigator with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The lecturer focused on the most common types of online fraud.
The first scheme involves hacking the Gosuslugi portal. Fraudsters gain access to personal accounts, copy passport information, tax identification numbers, and SNILS (Individual Insurance Account Number), and then order certificates or attempt to obtain loans. "There is no code, and there never will be. Genuine government employees never request confirmation codes over the phone," confirmed Maxim Golovkin.
The second involves scams involving offers of easy money. Fraudsters create groups on social media, encouraging users to like products on marketplaces. They then ask users to "buy" the product, supposedly to boost their ratings, promising a refund with interest. According to a police officer, one victim transferred almost 700,000 rubles to the scammers before realizing they were deceiving her.
The third case involved blackmail using intimate materials. The lieutenant cited a case that occurred in March of this year: unknown individuals hacked a woman's VKontakte account, gained access to her personal photos, and demanded a ransom. The police officer recommended not transferring money in such cases, but immediately contacting law enforcement.
In July 2025, Article 187 of the Russian Criminal Code came into force, establishing liability for dropshipping—the sale of bank cards, SIM cards, and accounts for use by scammers. Punishment is threatened not only for the organizers, but also for those who rent out their SIM card for 200 rubles "for a couple of days."
Be careful. Don't be intimidated!
The lecturer focused on the most common types of online fraud.
The first scheme involves hacking the Gosuslugi portal. Fraudsters gain access to personal accounts, copy passport information, tax identification numbers, and SNILS (Individual Insurance Account Number), and then order certificates or attempt to obtain loans. "There is no code, and there never will be. Genuine government employees never request confirmation codes over the phone," confirmed Maxim Golovkin.
The second involves scams involving offers of easy money. Fraudsters create groups on social media, encouraging users to like products on marketplaces. They then ask users to "buy" the product, supposedly to boost their ratings, promising a refund with interest. According to a police officer, one victim transferred almost 700,000 rubles to the scammers before realizing they were deceiving her.
The third case involved blackmail using intimate materials. The lieutenant cited a case that occurred in March of this year: unknown individuals hacked a woman's VKontakte account, gained access to her personal photos, and demanded a ransom. The police officer recommended not transferring money in such cases, but immediately contacting law enforcement.
In July 2025, Article 187 of the Russian Criminal Code came into force, establishing liability for dropshipping—the sale of bank cards, SIM cards, and accounts for use by scammers. Punishment is threatened not only for the organizers, but also for those who rent out their SIM card for 200 rubles "for a couple of days."
Be careful. Don't be intimidated!
Дата:
20.04.2026