Russians Grow More Resilient to Cyber Fraud
Federal efforts to protect citizens are beginning to reduce the effectiveness of online scams.
Russians are falling victim to fraud schemes less often, according to the Russian Interior Ministry. Citizens are increasingly staying calm when they receive suspicious phone calls, officials say, a shift partly driven by a large-scale public awareness campaign.
New safeguards are also helping reduce crime in the digital sphere. One example is the samozapret na kredity (self-imposed loan ban), which prevents fraudsters from taking out loans in someone’s name—even if they gain access to the Gosuslugi (State Services portal). Over the past year, 22 million Russians have activated the self-ban option.
Restrictions Designed for Protection
Login verification messages for Gosuslugi are now blocked if they arrive during a phone call. Over the past two years, Russia has also banned spoofed phone numbers and introduced systems that block banking transactions if funds are transferred without a customer’s consent. Authorities have tightened rules for SIM card sales and increased liability for the collection, storage, and processing of personal data, as well as for transferring bank cards or subscriber phone numbers. Officials say these steps have contributed to a decline in cybercrime. Representatives of the Interior Ministry say public education efforts must continue.
