The campaign "On guard of digital security"

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ONLINE SCAMS!

Scammers are constantly perfecting deception schemes to get your money. In addition to Internet calls, landline telephone and mobile communications, as well as Internet video calls, can be used in messengers such as Viber, Telegram or WhatsApp . Most often, they are represented by law enforcement officers, employees of cellular operators, government or banking organizations, less often by your relative or supervisor, broker or trader of a crypto exchange.

THE MOST RELEVANT FRAUDULENT SCHEMES

They report a problem and, having gained trust, offer help in solving it. For example, the victim is stunned by suspicion of complicity in a crime, hence the likelihood of a search and seizure of funds. To save them, they propose to transfer cash to an allegedly secure account or transfer it to an allegedly bank employee for declaration.

They inform you that the contract for communication services has expired and convince you to download a fake application using a link from the messenger in order to extend the service. Such applications allow fraudsters to see all the information from the smartphone screen (SMS codes, usernames and passwords to banking). You need to know that it is safe to download apps only from the official Google Play, App Store, and App Gallery stores, and not from directed links.

Internet criminals skillfully use the capabilities of neural networks. When they receive a voice sample or photo, they create fake messages or videos on behalf of relatives or acquaintances. Later, such fake requests for financial assistance for medical treatment are sent to the victim's contacts on a bank card or through an "acquaintance".

The most dangerous cybercriminals are those who pose as brokers or traders of trading platforms and offer the victim to increase income by investing a small amount. They post a website of a non-existent stock exchange with charts and graphs on the Internet. They register a personal account for depositors and demonstrate the allegedly received income. Sometimes they allow you to withdraw a small part of the money, but they always convince you to continue investing large amounts, which, for example, to borrow from friends, get a loan or from the sale of housing.

To withdraw the stolen money, scammers always use front persons – drops, who provided access to their bank accounts for a reward. Drops are links in a criminal chain and are needed to transfer money through several banks to foreign accounts or into cryptocurrency. The drops are liable under Article 222 of the Criminal Code up to 10 years in prison.

In our republic, it is allowed to buy and sell cryptocurrencies for cash (Belarusian rubles, foreign currency or electronic money) only from crypto exchanges (cryptocurrency exchange operators) that are residents of the Hi-Tech Park. Transactions for the purchase (sale) of cryptocurrencies on foreign crypto exchanges and from individuals are illegal and prohibited. The procedure for conducting transactions with cryptocurrency is defined by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 09/20/2024 No. 367, for violation of which liability is provided under Part 3 of art.13.3 of the Administrative Code in the form of a fine with confiscation of the entire amount of income.

Be vigilant! This knowledge will help you save your money!