An expert warned about new fraud schemes involving phone number spoofing and "double agents."

      According to the expert, enhanced security measures and public awareness have made traditional schemes less effective, so criminals are adopting new methods. One of them is SIM swapping, when a fraudster has the victim’s SIM card reissued at a mobile operator’s store and gains access to all of their data and accounts. Stolen passport details are often used for this, RIA Novosti reports.

      Another common scheme is the “double agent.” In this case, the attacker hacks a user’s account, communicates with their acquaintances on their behalf and convinces them to add a “new” number or profile. After that the fraudster can change document details or carry out other fraudulent actions.

      Korobchenko noted that such cases occur particularly often in corporate environments, where there are many business partners and changes of contact information seem routine.

      In addition, fraudsters actively create phishing sites that resemble government portals, marketplaces and online banks in order to trick users into handing over personal data.

      To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, the expert advises setting a four-digit code on the SIM card, blocking its reissuance via Gosuslugi and carefully checking websites and contacts before sharing personal information.