How scammers act and how to protect yourself
The goal of scammers is to get hold of your money or information that can help them steal it.
The main pressure tactics used by scammers:
Urgency. Scammers often insist you react immediately, so that in the rush you don't have time to assess the risks or notice flaws in their scheme.
Danger. Fraudsters try to lower your guard by using fear: "your cards will be blocked", "your family member is in trouble", "a large loan is being taken out in your name", and so on.
Profit. Scammers exploit your desire to gain money: you "won" a lottery, inherited money, or "won" a prize draw. Their goal is to trick you into giving away your card details, text message codes, or money "to pay a commission".
Key recommendations:
If you have become a victim of fraud, please call your bank immediately. This will increase your chances of saving your money. YooMoney contacts
Don't share your personal information with anyone. Never provide your passwords, logins, or text message codes, no matter what pretext is used.
Don't provide your card's expiration date or CVV/CVC code, only scammers ask for this information. You shouldn't disclose the full card number either. If someone wants to transfer money to you, it can be done via FPS by phone number or using bank details.
Always verify information from reliable sources. If you have doubts about whether you're really dealing with a bank representative or another company, visit the official website or call the official phone number.
Verify information with your nearest and dearest. If friends or relatives ask you for money or send a suspicious link, contact them through another channel and ask something only the two of you would know.
Always check website addresses and links. Scammers often use similar website names to make you less cautious.
Fraud schemes and what to do:
Fraud scheme
A scammer calls pretending to be a bank employee and says that there's something wrong with your account or card, and in order to protect your money you need to:
provide your card details, a code from push notifications or text messages, or your online banking password
install some program on your smartphone or computer
transfer money to a "safe account"
The stories may differ: your account has been "hacked", there's a "suspicious transaction", or a "banking error". The goal is always to make you worry about your money.
What to do
Don't share your card details, passwords, or codes from text messages or push notifications. Real bank employees may only ask for part of your card number: the first six and last four digits.
Don't follow the caller's instructions and hang up right away.
If you've already shared any details or taken action, call the support service immediately but only using the phone number listed on the official website or on the back of your card.
Our contacts: 8 800 700-22-99, 8 800 250-66-99, or 7 495 197-86-86.
Fraud scheme
A scammer calls pretending to be a law enforcement officer and tells you that:
An employee of your bank is allegedly suspected of fraud, and you're told to transfer your money to a "safe account" to protect it.
A loan application was allegedly made in your name, and you're asked to provide your card details "to assist the investigation".
The stories may differ: your account has been "hacked", there's a "suspicious transaction", or a "banking error". The goal is always to make you worry about your money.
In such scenarios, fraudsters may call more than once. For example, they might first call to arrange a "convenient time" to discuss the issue with a "police officer". Later, when the victim is already expecting the call, it becomes easier to convince them to provide the information the scammers need.
What to do
Never share your card details, passwords, or codes from text messages or push notifications. Real law enforcement officers will never ask you for this information.
During the first call, you can simply say that you're ready to continue the conversation once you receive an official summons. There's no need to give your registered address as law enforcement officers already have it.
Don't follow the caller's instructions. If you've already shared any details or taken action, call the support service immediately but only using the phone number listed on the official website or on the back of your card.
Our contacts: 8 800 700-22-99, 8 800 250-66-99, or 7 495 197-86-86.
Fraud scheme
There may be two scenarios:
The text message from the bank is fake. There's no transfer and the scammer is simply trying to trick you into sending money under the pretext of a refund.
Sometimes money really is transferred to your account, but then you're asked to send it to another account or card. This is a money laundering scheme, and you risk becoming an accomplice to a crime.
What to do
Don't transfer any money until you check your transaction history in your profile, and make sure the money has actually arrived. Also check the number your bank uses to send text messages. YooMoney sends them from 1960 or YooMoney. If it's a different number, the message is fake and should be ignored.
If you really did receive a transfer, contact the bank's support service. Explain that you don't know where the money came from and that you want to return it to the sender. They'll advise you how to do this.
Our contacts: 8 800 700-22-99, 8 800 250-66-99, or 7 495 197-86-86.
If someone asks you to send money to a different account or card than the one that made the payment, don't do it.
Fraud scheme
A scammer gains access to the social media account of someone you know and asks you to send money under different pretexts: an emergency, urgent medical treatment, or simply borrowing money. If you don't verify the information, you risk sending money to a scammer.
What to do
Don't transfer anything until you verify the information. Call your friend directly and ask if they really are asking for money. If you can't call, text them in another social network and ask a question only they would know the answer to.
Fraud scheme
When you post a sales ad, a scammer may contact you pretending to be a buyer. They claim they want to make an advance payment and ask for your card number, CVV/CVC code, and expiration date.
If you gave them only your card number, the "buyer" may insist that the payment isn't going through and that the rest of the card details are required.
The scammer may ask you to follow a link, where you should enter your card details and purchase amount into a fake form.
What to do
Don't share your card's expiration date, CVV/CVC code, PIN, or text message codes for receiving transfers. Only fraudsters ask for this information.
We recommend using trusted online marketplaces that provide fraud protection. You can also use YooMoney's fundraising tools or ask the customer to pay directly to your account details.
You may share your phone number to make a transfer via FPS or your full card number, but there's no guarantee the buyer won't misuse this information.
Fraud scheme
A scammer posts a fake ad for a product. When the buyer transfers money, they claim the payment didn't go through and ask to pay again.
In this case, a scammer may send you fake screenshots of chats with their bank's support service or from their online banking, trying to "prove" that the money never arrived.
If you pay, they'll claim the money "didn't come through" and ask again endlessly. You won't receive the product, and the scammer keeps your money.
What to do
Don't resend money, first verify the information.
If you're told that the payment hasn't gone through, check your transaction history. If necessary, request confirmation of the transfer from your bank.
If the payment was successful but the seller denies it and doesn't provide the product, you are probably being scammed. In this case, you should contact the police.
Fraud scheme
A fraudster intercepts information about your online payment. They message you, pretending to be a company manager, claiming the payment failed and sending a link to "try again". These messages often sent via messengers, since aggregator websites usually filter out fraudulent ones.
What to do
Don't switch to messengers, don't click on links, and don't make payments through them. If you're told that a payment is not going through, contact the support service of the aggregator, store, or platform where you're making the purchase.
In most stores and services, you can pay directly on the website or upon receiving the product or service. No special links are needed.
Fraud scheme
A scammer creates a fake website that looks very similar to the real one and posts an attractive offer. When you make a purchase, you get nothing, while your money and card details go to the scammer.
What to do
Make sure the website isn't fake: look for information about the organization, check their contact details, and read reviews about the seller.
Even if a website looks familiar, check the address bar carefully. If the address differs from the official one by even a single letter, it's a fake.
Pay attention to the beginning of the link. The addresses of most legitimate websites start with https://: this indicates a higher level of data protection. If the address starts with http://, it's better not to make any payments on such a website.
Fraud scheme
A scammer sends you an email claiming that you have won a large sum of money or a valuable prize. Usually, such emails contain no detailed information about the drawing or contest itself.
You're asked to pay a fee to receive your winnings. If you pay, they may ask for another fee for something else, and it can go on endlessly.
Instead of a commission, they may ask for your card details. They'll insist that to receive your winnings, you must provide the full card number, expiration date, and CVV/CVC code.
You won't receive the prize, while your money will go to the scammers.
Fraudsters may also send you an email claiming that your prize money has been credited to your account, and ask you to follow a link to access it. Once you click the link and enter your login and password in a fake online banking or lottery portal, the money won't be there while your data will already be obtained by scammers.
What to do
If you're really expecting a payout, you can send the account number.
If this is a real prize or bonus, you won't be asked for a fee or full card details: only scammers ask for them.
Don't follow links from suspicious emails and always check website addresses. If the address differs from the official one by even a single letter, it's a fake.
Fraud scheme
A scammer may offer to take part in a marketing survey with the promise of payment. After the survey, you'll be asked to pay a fee to receive your reward. If you pay, they may ask again, and the cycle can repeat endlessly.
Instead of asking for a fee, they may request your card details. They'll insist that to get your "reward" they need the full card number, expiration date, and CVV/CVC code.
You won't receive a reward, while your money will go to scammers.
What to do
Never provide your full card details "to receive a transfer", and never pay someone to "send you money".
Survey participants rarely receive rewards, most such offers are scams. If a legitimate company does pay for surveys, it will never ask you for a transfer fee or full card details.
Fraud scheme
"Unified Refund Center", "Financial Protection Center", or other fake entities promise you money: tax refunds, social benefits, and others.
Those who have already lost money to scammers may be targeted again by offering "compensation". Fraudsters monitor complaint websites and reviews, then share contact lists with each other.
You're asked to pay a commission for legal services to receive a payout. Once you pay, they may request another commission for something else, and so on endlessly.
Instead of asking for a commission, they may request your card details. They'll try to convince you that in order to receive the payment, you must provide the full card number, expiration date, and CVV/CVC code.
You won't receive the payment, while your money will go to the scammers.
What to do
Never provide your full card details "to receive a transfer", and never pay someone to "send you money". Only scammers make such offers.
For legitimate payouts, check official government websites. If you are entitled to compensation or benefits, apply directly through the proper authority.
Fraud scheme
A scammer offers to dispute and delete any records from your credit history for a fee. Once you paid, the scammer disappears with both your money and the personal information you shared.
What to do
This service doesn't exist so don't pay for it.
You can request a report on your credit history and dispute any incorrect records independently. A list of bureaus that hold your data is available on Gosuslugi
Request a credit report from each bureau and check for errors. If there are any, the bureau will delete them after verification.
You can't just delete any record from your credit history, only fraudsters offer this.
Fraud scheme
A scammer posts a fake job vacancy. There're no specific requirements for candidates: the job is simple, but the salary looks attractive.
If you respond to a job ad, you may first be asked to pay a fee for document processing or job training.
If you pay, you won't get the job, and the money will go to fraudsters.
What to do
Don't pay anything requested by the "employer".
There're signs of a fake job vacancy:
no legal address or landline phone number
company representatives avoid face-to-face meetings or video calls
requirements and responsibilities are vague
an unreasonably high salary
no reviews about the company, or the reviews directly say it's a scam
If you notice these signs, don't respond.
Fraud scheme
A scammer pretends to be a real estate agent. They ask for an advance payment for "finding suitable landlords or tenants".
After making an advance payment, scammers may send you listings that are publicly available anyway, or contacts of people who aren't actually renting anything out.
In the case of searching for tenants, no clients will come because the so-called real estate agent never looked for anyone.
What to do
Check the information carefully and only pay a realtor under a contract. Real estate agents always sign a service agreement and specify any advance payment in it. As a rule, landlords aren't charged a commission.
Fraud scheme
A scammer may write to you in a messenger, pretending to be from a bank, government agency, or a friend, and ask you to install malicious software disguised as antivirus software, a new banking app, or something similar. Such programs give them remote access to your device or infect it with viruses. With their help, the scammer can monitor everything you do: the passwords, logins, and card details you enter, as well as the text messages and push notifications you receive.
A scammer also may disguise malware as an image or link.
What to do
Download apps only from official websites and avoid suspicious links. You can download our official apps here: YooMoney on your smartphone.
Fraud scheme
Binary options and betting aren't scams in themselves. However, they're designed in such a way that you spend as much money as possible while earning as little as possible. Even if you win, you may face obstacles when trying to withdraw your money, and disputing the actions of betting companies is difficult. You may also be pressured into buying additional services without quality guarantees: paid predictions or strategies.
In addition, scammers often disguise themselves as such services.
What to do
Double-check the information and stick to reliable investment tools. Carefully read the company's terms and fees.
If registration requires only an email address, you're most likely dealing with a "gray" binary options broker or a scammer.
A legitimate stock broker will always request your passport and you'll sign an official contract.