Millions Fall Victim to Mobile Phone Scams
:nana:
Russian mobile services provider Vimpelcom released a report this week that said over 10 million Russians have fallen victim to various scam-artists using mobile phone calls to trick people into transferring money to them. Loopholes in the current law, however, prevent law enforcement from offering solid protection against these crimes.
The general director of Vim*pelcom, Nikolai Prya*nishnikov, told reporters that although the schemes used by criminals are becoming more complicated and cunning, the most common way to cheat people has not changed much in recent years.
Most scams are based on people's sense of trust - criminals call them and say that a relative has gotten into trouble, for example, but a bribe can solve the problem if delivered immediately. Another scam involves sending a text message that says a subscriber has won a lottery, but to get it he must transfer money to a specified account.
A trickier and more cynical scheme emerged recently where criminals post a letter on the Internet asking people to donate blood to help a sick relative or child. They give no contacts for the hospital, but post a phone number saying that all questions should be directed there. The number turns out to be a toll-line, which can be registered cheaply and easily.
The victims of such scams have little chances of recovering their losses. Mobile service providers cannot return the money because the funds are transferred voluntarily.
All major mobile operators say they warn their clients about such schemes, and say it is the only way they can improve the situation. However, even in this they are limited - a precise description of embezzlement schemes could function as instructions for would-be criminals.
:nana:
Russian mobile services provider Vimpelcom released a report this week that said over 10 million Russians have fallen victim to various scam-artists using mobile phone calls to trick people into transferring money to them. Loopholes in the current law, however, prevent law enforcement from offering solid protection against these crimes.
The general director of Vim*pelcom, Nikolai Prya*nishnikov, told reporters that although the schemes used by criminals are becoming more complicated and cunning, the most common way to cheat people has not changed much in recent years.
Most scams are based on people's sense of trust - criminals call them and say that a relative has gotten into trouble, for example, but a bribe can solve the problem if delivered immediately. Another scam involves sending a text message that says a subscriber has won a lottery, but to get it he must transfer money to a specified account.
A trickier and more cynical scheme emerged recently where criminals post a letter on the Internet asking people to donate blood to help a sick relative or child. They give no contacts for the hospital, but post a phone number saying that all questions should be directed there. The number turns out to be a toll-line, which can be registered cheaply and easily.
The victims of such scams have little chances of recovering their losses. Mobile service providers cannot return the money because the funds are transferred voluntarily.
All major mobile operators say they warn their clients about such schemes, and say it is the only way they can improve the situation. However, even in this they are limited - a precise description of embezzlement schemes could function as instructions for would-be criminals.