Russian lawmaker warns of fake agency messages asking recipients to call back

Scammers are impersonating government agencies and asking recipients to call a supplied number themselves, Russian lawmaker Anton Nemkin told RIA Novosti.

Nemkin said the arrangement can create a false sense of safety because the recipient initiates the conversation while actually reaching the fraudsters. Senders use personal details and familiar agency names, including the Social Fund, Federal Tax Service and Interior Ministry, to make their messages appear credible.

The conversation may begin with a request to confirm information or disclose a message verification code, he said. It can then lead to demands for a money transfer, changes to account settings or access to an account. Nemkin identified urgency and emotional pressure as central elements of the deception.

He advised checking an approach through a telephone number independently found on the organisation's official website or by visiting in person. Passwords, message codes and credentials for banking or government services should never be disclosed to a caller, he said.