The second hand on fraudsters: adult children protect the accounts of older parents
Most often, the service of the “second hand” for the approval of large operations by a trusted person, Russians connect elderly parents (50%), VTB analysts found.
At the same time, in 7 out of 10 cases, young people aged 18-25 become defenders for their parents, of which more than half are women.
VTB researchers conducted a survey of customers who connected the second-hand service and found out how often women and men use this free service, for whom and for what purpose. It turned out that Russians use the service in order to save money from scammers parents, their children (34%) and spouses (29%). Interestingly, women are more likely to connect additional protection to children (54%), but men are mostly assistants for their parents (60%) and wives (38%).
Who is taken under the protection of the Russians depends on what generation belongs to the “defender”. Clients – trustees aged 25-54 years are more likely to connect the service to children (45%), young people (18-24 years) – parents (71%) and friends (29%), senior customers (55+ years) – spouses (48%). In 9 out of 10 cases, the service is activated at the initiative of the assistant.
Among the main motives to use the service, which were cited by customers, the risk of fraud (46%), care for a loved one (43%), insurance for the loss of a phone or card (28%) and help less financially literate loved ones (26%)*.
As previously found in VTB, 70% of the Bank’s customers who use the service “second hand”, over 60 years. 69% of bank customers who connected the service keep up to 2 million rubles on accounts, 26% - from 2.5 million rubles and 2% - from 15 million rubles.
The second-hand service became mandatory for banks from September 1, 2025. It allows you to entrust control of banking operations to a relative or friend who can confirm or reject money transfers and other transactions if they seem suspicious. The amount from which the approval of the trustee is required is determined by the client when connecting the service. At the same time, the assistant does not have access to the account and the right to independent operations. VTB Online service is available in the "Security" section.
* Several answers could be selected.
The survey was conducted among adult Russians – bank clients who connected the second-hand service to VTB (both “defenders” and “protected”).
