Scammers Target Russians with Fake Utility Debt Notifications

Fraudsters have adopted a new strategy to steal Russians’ bank card information by sending out fake notifications about supposed debts for housing and utility services (commonly known as ЖКУ in Russia). These debts are allegedly incurred during the quarantine period and the shift to remote work. This was reported to RBC by a representative of VTB Bank.

How the Scam Works

Criminals send emails to Russians, claiming that they have accumulated debts for utility services in 2020, ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 rubles. The recipients are asked to pay these fake bills online. As soon as a victim clicks the link in the email and attempts to make an online payment, the scammers gain access to their account credentials and bank account.

If the person ignores the email, the scammers follow up with a phone call, pretending to be employees of the property management company. They claim to be verifying payments made earlier in the year and try to convince the victim that they have an outstanding “apartment fee debt.” The fraudsters then attempt to find out the payment methods and card details used for previous payments, and may even ask the victim to make a test transaction and provide the code received via SMS.

Why the Scam Is Effective

According to Alexey Kirichek, Vice President of VTB and Head of the Acquiring Department, scammers are well aware that property management companies recalculate utility payments at the end of the year. They have decided to exploit this process for malicious purposes. Since Russians’ utility expenses have increased due to the pandemic and the transition to remote work, settling debts has become especially relevant for some residents.

How to Protect Yourself

• Be cautious of unexpected emails or calls about utility debts, especially if they ask for online payments or personal banking information.
• Do not click on suspicious links or provide your card details and SMS codes to unknown callers.
• If you receive such a notification, contact your property management company directly using official contact information to verify any claims.

Stay vigilant and protect your personal and financial information from scammers.