Sochi resident loses savings in bank SMS scam

On her birthday, a Sochi resident received an SMS greeting, supposedly from the bank whose services she uses. The message said the bank had prepared for her, as a regular customer, a gift — a new card with a balance of 5,000 rubles (about $55 at current rates).

She needed to follow a link and fill out an application. The birthday woman did everything as asked, entered her phone number and the codes that started to come to her. After that, she logged into the bank«s mobile app and did not find the new card there. But she noticed that all her savings — about 63,000 rubles (about $700 at current rates) — had disappeared from her savings account.

— The bank never asks you for SMS codes or the card«s CVC code. If you are asked for this, it is 100% scammers. Do not follow links from SMS, even if they look like they’re from the bank. Especially with suspicious offers of gifts, bonuses or urgent actions. Conduct all transactions only through the official bank app or its website, the address of which you know. Do not share SMS codes with anyone, — recommends the press service of the Sochi Police Department.