Attackers can easily access all internal correspondence of neighbors.
Photo: Anastasia OSIPOVA. Go to Photobank KP
“Neighbors, I’m renting a parking space. If anyone is interested, please write me a personal message.” These kinds of ads appear in our home chat almost every day. And they constantly surprise me. There are few spaces, but there are plenty of people who want to make sure they park their car underground, and not have to struggle to find a spot. Where do these people come from who constantly give up their spots? One possible answer is that there aren’t any.
PARKING SPACE FOR RENT
– Fraudsters are actively exploring new platforms, one of which is chat rooms of residents of apartment buildings. Thus, scammers can sell parking spaces on behalf of neighbors and disappear after receiving an advance payment, the Telegram channel “Bulletin of the Cyber Police of Russia” warned.
The scheme works like this. Anyone who wants to rent a parking space writes a private message to the scammer. He says he can come through, but there are many who want it. Those who make an advance payment three months in advance will be given priority. And preferably as quickly as possible.
As a rule, only neighbours participate in home chats. Therefore, the victim does not suspect that he or she might be deceived. This is what scammers count on.
“SAVE THE CAT”
Parking spaces are the most popular system. Scammers are hooked on this because parking in the capital is always a problem. Buyers of apartments in new buildings often try to save money on buying a parking space. I’ll somehow find a place in the garden. But as soon as they start living there, difficulties arise. Those who are tired of driving around the area for half an hour in search of parking decide to buy or rent parking. At the same time, there are many other schemes.
“For example, the sale of non-existent surpluses of construction materials, household appliances and furniture at attractive prices,” the police explained.
In such cases, an advance payment is also required. There seems to be a lot of excitement. Whoever sends the money first will reserve the goods for that tenant.
Finally, another common genre in domestic chats is the one to raise money for some need. Very often, in these cases, scammers press for pity.
– The attackers may use the charity theme and offer to transfer funds supposedly for the treatment of sick children, homeless animals and lonely elderly people. They illustrate their social media posts with photographs that do not correspond to reality, the police explain.
It won’t be possible to collect a large sum here. But if even a few dozen sympathetic residents contribute a couple of hundred or even a thousand rubles, the earnings will be good. Moreover, such a message can be replicated in dozens of domestic chats. And not only in Moscow, but throughout Russia.
Scammers often ask for sympathy and offer to donate money to “rescue the cat.”
Photo: Vladimir VELENGURIN. Go to Photobank KP
DON’T TRUST STRANGERS ON THE INTERNET
At the same time, you can access most domestic chats without presenting any ownership documents. For example, in a minute I became a member of a group in one of the Moscow residential complexes. I simply typed the word “LCD” into the Telegram search bar, chose the first option, went through a small captcha – that is, entered an encrypted digital code that can knock out a bot, but not an ordinary person.
That’s it, I now have access to all the internal correspondence of the residents of this residential complex. About cats, elevators that don’t work, dog droppings and playful children. If you want, I can even write an advertisement for renting a parking space.
– To protect yourself from such schemes, you should not rush into making decisions. Always insist on a personal meeting, complete the necessary documents and request additional information, the police advise.
