Have you transferred money to fraudsters yet? The Interior Ministry gave clear instructions on how to save the situation

Panic and confusion are the worst allies in the fight against phone scams. If you have already realized that you have become a victim of fraudsters, transferred money to them or reported bank card details, you need to act quickly. The press center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia compiled a clear algorithm of actions for the victims.

Step 1: Break contact immediately and block access

First rule: Stop any communication with intruders right now. Do not engage in dialogue, do not listen to their persuasion. Call your bank immediately, but only at the official number indicated on the back of the card or on the website of the financial institution. Notify the operator of the suspicious operation and ask to try to cancel it. At the same time, demand to block the card or completely restrict access to the account.

Step 2: Gather evidence and go to the police

If there is a suspicion that your personal data has leaked to fraudsters, do not delete anything. Keep all correspondence, phone numbers from which you were called, screenshots of transfers and checks. If the conversation was recorded, save the audio file. This package of evidence should be addressed to the nearest police station as soon as possible to initiate criminal proceedings.

Step 3: Secure digital life

If you dictated passwords from public services, email or banking applications to fraudsters during the conversation, immediately restore access to these accounts and change all passwords to new, complex combinations.

The main warning from the Interior Ministry:

Under no circumstances do you believe promises to “return stolen money.” Fraudsters often call victims repeatedly, posing as “employees of the Central Bank” or “investigative committee”, and demand to transfer an additional amount allegedly for “commission”, “insurance” or “refund processing”. It is also strictly forbidden to install any programs on the phone at the direction of strangers.

MK in Pskov urges residents of the region to be vigilant and tell their elderly relatives about this algorithm. Time in this situation is playing against you.