In addition, many graduates received SMS messages from unknown numbers on instant messengers. They said that a video surveillance camera allegedly recorded the student cheating on the Unified State Exam. And the graduate was offered to buy the compromising recording. As soon as the student accepted and transferred the money, the connection was immediately severed and the scammer’s account was blocked.
The time for final exams has passed. It’s time for the university entrance exams. Fraudulent schemes and cybercriminals have changed. Under their attack are the same schoolchildren of yesterday and their parents.
“On the eve of the period for submitting documents to universities, scammers deceive applicants and their parents, create fake websites and groups on social networks that pose as admission committees of higher education institutions and offer students applicants buy supposedly cheap places; money, the attackers disappear,” said the source of the Department of the Ministry of the Interior to organize the fight against the illegal use of information and communications technologies (cyberpolice).
Scammers create fake websites and groups on social media, posing as college admissions committees. Applicants are offered to buy inexpensive places.
It is noted that scammers skillfully convince potential victims with “guarantees” of admission to prestigious universities, and also attract them with the relatively attractive cost of “inexpensive” places – in some regions it does not exceed 20 thousand rubles. In large cities, the amounts usually vary between 200 and 500 thousand rubles.
“By agreeing to purchase such a place at a university, parents risk handing over personal data to scammers or losing access to the State Services portal and banking applications. This will lead to additional financial losses and other problems,” warns the cyber police.
The Ministry of the Interior reminds that university places financed by the State are not for sale: this violates the law and entails criminal liability.
According to police, scammers also try to trick prospective students into paying.
Having found out from any source that the graduate is enrolled on a paid basis, he is offered to purchase a transfer to the budget department. In addition, sometimes scammers claim that a personal account on a university website has been hacked or that a person has disappeared from the list of applicants, and at the same time they extract money and personal data.
During the Christmas season, cyber fraudsters also target tourists who want a good but cheap holiday. To do this, they create websites that imitate the Internet pages of existing travel agencies. “Criminals offer fake guided tours, book tickets and accommodation at supposedly favorable prices, always carefully check the spelling of the site name and use the services of trusted companies,” advises the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Scammers began posing as Wikipedia administrators and offering personalities mentioned in it to edit their bios.
In addition, scammers actively create phishing sites with a poster of a non-existent performance of a famous artist and lure potential victims there. There has also been an increase in the number of phishing sites offering orders for bouquets, candy, perfumes and other gifts, supposedly at wholesale prices or at deep discounts.
Another plan aimed at famous people has recently been spread. Scammers began posing as Wikipedia administrators and offering personalities mentioned in it to edit their bios. And many would very much like to correct what is written about them in the Internet encyclopedia. And they are underway.
Scammers report that editing text requires downloading a special editing application to your mobile phone. In fact, such an application will provide remote access to control the victim’s smartphone or allow you to download a banking Trojan that will intercept SMS codes and push messages, ultimately also allowing you to withdraw money from the person’s bank account.
One of the most common methods to hijack accounts on social networks and instant messaging continue to be messages asking to vote for a child who participates in some type of contest. These messages usually come from someone on your contact list whose account the scammers have already accessed.
When you click the “vote” link, you will be directed to a phishing site. To cast your vote, you will be asked to log in. If you enter your profile login information, attackers will obtain it.
