Russian Bank Scams Surge as Fraudsters Spoof Trusted Short Codes
Fraudsters are increasingly targeting Russian bank customers by spoofing official short codes. These scams rely on fake caller IDs to trick victims into trusting the calls. Most of the fraudulent activity still originates from outside the country, despite efforts to block it.
Russian banks use short numbers for customer communication, such as 900 for Sberbank. Because these codes are widely recognised, people often trust calls or messages appearing to come from them. Scammers exploit this trust by using VoIP technology to manipulate caller IDs, making any digits or symbols appear on a victim's screen.
The majority of these fraudulent calls come from abroad, routed through foreign telecom providers and SIM boxes. This allows criminals to impersonate banks, government agencies, or other trusted entities. Russian mobile operators have implemented anti-fraud programmes to block spoofed calls, reducing the number originating from domestic networks.
Sberbank has advised customers to save its official short code in their phone contacts. This simple step can help verify whether an incoming call is genuine or a scam attempt.
While mobile operators work to block spoofed calls, fraudsters continue to find ways around restrictions. The use of foreign telecom providers and VoIP technology keeps the problem persistent. Customers are encouraged to stay vigilant and verify caller identities before sharing any personal information.
