The number of thefts of funds from bank accounts is increasing

Day by day, the number of bank account fund thefts is increasing in our country, and the number of fraudsters seeking to profit from trusting citizens is growing. Victims often provide confidential information necessary for remote access to attackers themselves, 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 provide strangers not only with their card number but also with passwords, logins, and even codes from SMS messages required for authorization in the internet banking system. After that, attackers access other people's accounts within minutes and withdraw all funds.

Fraudsters, in order to obtain payment details, usually pose as bank employees and mislead their victims with alarming news. They have developed a whole arsenal of pretexts, upon hearing which, frightened interlocutors themselves rush to disclose confidential information. For example, bank employees need to urgently block an account that has been attacked by cybercriminals, prevent fraudsters from taking out a loan in the client's name, or opening an overdraft in their name. At the same time, fake specialists ask the victim to identify themselves, provide the card number, its expiration date, and follow the instructions of a representative from the IT security department. 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, as, in violation of the rules, they voluntarily disclosed secret data.

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

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

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

do not disclose card details and one-time SMS passwords to third parties to confirm transactions;

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

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

be cautious when making purchases online. 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 branches or large shopping centers with video surveillance.

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