A new fraud scheme is gaining momentum in Russia in which citizens themselves call the criminals, Izvestia reports. This method allows perpetrators to bypass call blocks in messaging apps and makes their attacks less noticeable to telecom operators.

      According to data for the third quarter of 2025, the damage from such crimes exceeded 65 billion rubles — almost a third more than in the previous period.

      The scheme works like this: fraudsters send SMS messages and letters, posing as delivery services, property management companies, or banks. The pretexts are as everyday as possible: meter checks or replacements, intercom malfunctions, problems logging into services. Believing it's a real situation, people dial the specified number themselves and then come into contact with the criminals.

      Experts interviewed by the outlet advise treating all incoming notifications with caution, not following links from SMS messages, and not calling the numbers provided. They recommend verifying information only through companies' official websites and their hotlines. Specialists also remind people of the importance of two-factor authentication and of not sharing bank details or SMS codes with third parties.

      A woman from Kirov lost 9,000 rubles after believing in "dividends for those born in the USSR." A 25-year-old woman from Kirov transferred 1.3 million rubles to fraudsters. A woman from Kirov transferred almost 2 million rubles to fraudsters for a "car from abroad."