"Intimidating Adolescents by Shanteling": Russians Alerted to Deceitful Approaches by Criminals Targeting Youth
Cyber scoundrels are actively preying on Russian teenagers, tailoring their illicit schemes to match their online habits and interests. Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma committee on information policy, information technology, and communications, and the federal coordinator of the party project "Digital Russia," addressed this concern in a discussion with RT.
The rising number of cyber assaults includes phony lotteries and competitions on social media sites, where youngsters are promised enticing prizes. These crafty swindlers gather personal data, bank card information of parents, and unauthorized access to their accounts, all in the name of verifying wins.
Scammers often dangle the carrot of easy money in front of teenagers, promising rewards on online marketplaces for selling goods, testing bank services, and more. However, their ultimate intent is to enlist teens in money laundering schemes, turning them into unwitting accomplices in criminal activities.
Many teenagers fall victim to blackmail and extortion, with crooks often reaching out to them through false accounts posing as teachers or school administrators.
"The key to safeguarding teenagers is to communicate with them in a language of trust," Nemkin advised. "Parents should share with their children that not everyone on the internet can be trusted. Any request for personal information should prompt suspicion."**
He urged parents to immediately reach out to school, local law enforcement, and Roskomnadzor rather than scolding their children when they encounter such situations. Digital literacy and open communication with children were highlighted as the best defense against scammers.
Previously, Roman Anikushin, the head of the MTS ID seamless center, reported that scammers use the EGE exam season to pilfer personal data. They've created over 100 sites masquerading as answer providers, duping students and their parents into entering their personal data for authorization. This data, in turn, is used for malicious activities, potentially allowing scammers to install harmful software, blackmail, and exploit their victims.
Earlier, Russians were cautioned about an uptick in fraud during the May holidays.
Behind the Scenes: Beyond the Headlines
The Cyber Underworld
The Russian-speaking cybercriminal underworld is a powerful and influential player in global cybercrime. Recent developments involve using minors in disguised "quest games," as unveiled by Ukraine's SBU.
Manipulation Tactics
Common tactics employed by scammers include phishing, vishing, and SIM swapping. Some criminal networks exhibit sadistic behavior while engaging in various cybercrimes. Scammers use social media to disseminate deceptive information, crafting especially tempting offers for young people.
Protective Measures for Parents
Shielding Children from Cyber Predators
- Education: Teach children about the risks of false allure and the significance of verifying information prior to engaging with it. Instill a sense that if something appears too good to be true, it usually is.
- Supervision: Monitor your children's online activities by setting boundaries and keeping tabs on their social media interactions.
- Privacy Settings: Help them set stringent privacy settings on their social media accounts to limit who can see their information.
- Security Software: equip devices with antivirus and anti-malware software to block malware attacks.
- Promote Critical Thinking: Foster critical evaluation skills in children, encouraging them to scrutinize online information and be cautious when downloading files or clicking on links from unknown sources.
Incident Reporting
- Local Authorities: Report any suspected incidents to local law enforcement or cybercrime reporting centers.
- Platforms: Send reports of suspicious activities directly to the social media platforms where they occurred.
Resources
- Cybersecurity Guides: Turn to guides provided by renowned cybersecurity organizations for guidance on safeguarding children from online scams.
- Local Awareness Campaigns: Take part in or follow local initiatives promoting cybercrime prevention and online safety for young people.
Always stay informed. Stay updated with credible cybersecurity news and intelligence to stay one step ahead of scammers and their evolving strategies.
- Scammers targeting Russian teenagers have devised various schemes on social media, such as false lotteries and competitions, promising enticing prizes but ultimately gathering personal and financial data.
- Online marketplaces are also targeted by scammers, who promise easy money to teens for activities like selling goods or testing bank services, but the real intention is to recruit them into money laundering activities.
- Blackmail and extortion are also common tactics, with scammers posing as teachers or school administrators to manipulate young teens.
- Anton Nemkin, a member of the Russian parliament, advised that parents should communicate with their children about the risks of the internet, encouraging them to be suspicious of any requests for personal information.
- In addition to education and communication, Nemkin recommended that parents immediately report any suspicious activities to school, local law enforcement, and Roskomnadzor when their children encounter such situations.
