High-tech security

Today, the number of thefts of funds from bank accounts has significantly increased in the republic. Victims themselves provide confidential information necessary for remote access to attackers who use telephone communication and play certain roles (bank employee, buyer, etc.). New victims appear daily.

Authors of advertisements for selling goods or renting out housing are most vulnerable. When promising to transfer a deposit, victims lose their vigilance and inform strangers not only of their card number, but also of passwords, logins, and even codes from SMS messages required for authorization in the internet banking system. After that, attackers access other people's accounts in minutes and withdraw all funds.

Attackers, in order to obtain payment details, often pose as bank employees and mislead victims with alarming news. They have developed a whole arsenal of pretexts, upon hearing which, frightened interlocutors are themselves in a hurry to disclose confidential information. For example, bank employees need to urgently block an account that has been attacked by cyber thieves, prevent fraudsters from "hanging" a loan on the client, or opening an overdraft in their name. At the same time, pseudo-specialists ask the victim to identify themselves, provide the card number, its expiration date, and follow the instructions of the IT security department representative. An "expert" who joins the conversation may even offer to protect funds by transferring them to a supposedly secure account – seconds later, the money disappears irrevocably. Unfortunately, victims cannot count on compensation from financial institutions, because, in violation of the rules, they voluntarily disclosed secret data.

Therefore, it will not be superfluous to once again warn about elementary precautions:

keep your PIN code, as well as internet banking login details (login, password, verification words or special codes) in a safe place, or better yet, in your memory;

cover the keyboard with your palm when entering your PIN code;

do not disclose to third parties

card details and one-time SMS passwords to confirm transactions;

use the "3DSecure" service and limits on the maximum amounts of online transactions;

hide the CVV code on the card (a three-digit number on the back of the card), having previously saved it;

be careful when making purchases on the internet. Use only verified and official websites. For online purchases, issue a separate card and do not keep large sums on it;

choose ATMs located in bank offices or large shopping centers with video surveillance.

Deputy Head of the Department
for supervision of inquiries and operational-search activities
Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office
Vladimir Rudenkov