Russian Woman Loses $2,700 in SMS and QR Code Scam
Russian Woman Loses $2,700 in SMS and QR Code Scam
Russian Woman Loses $2,700 in SMS and QR Code Scam
A 48-year-old woman in Dzerzhinsk has lost over 250,000 rubles (around $2,700) to fraudsters. The scam involved tricking her into sharing an SMS code and following a QR link through a messaging app. Authorities have now launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
The victim received a message from unknown individuals posing as officials or service providers. They convinced her to read out a verification code sent via SMS. Shortly after, she was directed to scan a QR link, which allowed the scammers to access her bank account.
Money was withdrawn from her account in two separate transactions. Police in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where Dzerzhinsk is located, had previously uncovered 57 similar fraud cases. However, no further reports of this exact scam have been officially recorded in Russia so far this year.
A criminal case has now been opened under fraud charges. If convicted, the fraudsters could face up to six years in prison.
The investigation into the fraud is ongoing. Authorities are working to trace the stolen funds and identify those responsible. The case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with sharing sensitive information online.