Scammers in Russia exploit confusion about the Central Bank’s digital ruble by sending fake emails and messages, prompting warnings from officials.
- Scammers exploit lack of familiarity with Central Bank’s digital ruble in Russia.
- Fraudsters send fake emails urging citizens to convert savings or participate in trials.
- Scams reported in various regions, including phishing attempts and impersonation of bank officials.
- Authorities warn citizens to stay vigilant and rely on official announcements to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes surrounding the digital ruble.
Reports have emerged of scammers targeting multiple regions in Russia with the aim of tricking citizens who are not yet familiar with the workings of the Central Bank’s digital ruble. Media outlets across the country have revealed that fraudsters are sending emails to citizens, using official logos and claiming that if they do not convert their savings to digital rubles, they will lose everything.
In other instances, scammers are posing as bank officials and informing citizens that they have been selected to participate in digital ruble trials. These scammers attempt to redirect people to phishing sites where they try to collect personal and financial data.
Fake Messages and Phishing Attempts
One such scam has been reported in the Sverdlovsk Oblast, located in the Ural Federal District. According to Vecherniy Vedmosti, residents of the region have received fake messages about transferring their funds to CBDC format, with some even requesting the collection of biometric data. Scammers in the region have also been sending text messages and social media messages, impersonating Multifunctional Center (MFC) officials. Local MFCs are responsible for providing state and municipal services to residents.
The information policy department chief of the Sverdlovsk Oblast has issued a statement clarifying that there is no official procedure for converting residents’ conventional fiat funds to digital rubles. Therefore, there is no need to visit local MFCs or provide biometric data.
like every failing scammer – Russia itself is now going into crypto 🤡🤡🤡 https://t.co/2KGB8hAT71
— Bionade 🇪🇺🇩🇪🇵🇱🇺🇦 (@B1on4de) July 24, 2023
Suspicious Emails from Banks
In Murmansk, a city in Northwestern Russia, a similar scam has been detected. Aleksey Andreev, the deputy manager of the Central Bank’s Murmansk region branch, has warned citizens to remain vigilant and be cautious of fraudsters taking advantage of the situation. He emphasized that legitimate emails about the digital ruble would not be sent to citizens during the pilot phase. Andreev specifically warned that emails from banks, including the Central Bank, are likely to be scams.
Andreev further stated that any offers to perform transactions with digital rubles are fraudulent. Scammers are either trying to intimidate citizens by threatening the loss of their savings or enticing them with fake opportunities to use digital rubles under favorable conditions.
To Sum it All Up….
The real-world pilot of the digital ruble commenced on August 15, allowing 600 citizens in 11 cities to conduct transactions with the coin. However, surveys have revealed that many Russians are confused and skeptical about the new digital currency. In fact, one study found that nearly a third of respondents believed the CBDC to be some kind of scam.
As the digital ruble pilot proceeds, authorities urge citizens to remain cautious and not fall victim to these scammers. It is important for individuals to be aware of the official procedures and announcements regarding the digital ruble to avoid being deceived by fraudulent schemes.
