Scammers Steal Money from Russians Using Child Benefit Payment Scheme

By Ava McKinneyOnline Safety

Scammers Target Russians with Fake Child Benefit Payment Schemes

In recent days, scammers in Russia have seized on a new, trending topic to steal money from citizens: child benefit payments. This wave of fraud began after President Vladimir Putin announced earlier this week that families would receive a payment of 10,000 rubles for each child aged 3 to 16. The promise of these payments has attracted widespread attention, making it an ideal cover for criminal activity.

How the Scam Works

Fraudsters are creating fake websites that claim to help families check if they are eligible for the new child benefit payments. According to experts from the company SearchInform, around 30 new fraudulent sites have appeared in the .ru domain zone alone. These sites often use domain names with keywords related to the current situation, such as “COVID-19,” “gosuslugi” (public services), “vyplaty” (payments), and “posobie” (benefit). Examples include: gosuslugi, gosuslugi-16, vyplaty, covid-vyplaty, and posobie.

The content on these fake sites typically copies the look and feel of legitimate government resources. Through this scheme, scammers can steal citizens’ personal data, including login credentials for official government websites.

Financial Theft Tactics

In addition to stealing personal information, criminals are also taking money directly from victims. After informing the victim that they are eligible for the payment, the scammers ask them to enter their bank card details to pay a supposed “tax” or “commission fee.”

How to Protect Yourself

  • Only use official government websites to check your eligibility for benefits.
  • Be cautious of any site asking for your personal or banking information, especially if it requests payment for processing or taxes.
  • Check the website’s domain carefully and look for signs of legitimacy.
  • If in doubt, contact official government hotlines or support services for verification.

Stay vigilant and protect your personal and financial information from scammers exploiting the child benefit payment scheme.

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