Scammers target Tatarstan residents with fake heating refunds

Scammers have begun sending SMS messages to residents of Tatarstan about refunds for heating overpayments amid the cold snap. The republic’s housing inspectorate (Zhilinspektsiya, the State Housing Inspectorate of Tatarstan) warned residents about this.

“The fraudsters are disguising themselves as management companies (upravlyayushchiye organizatsii, UO) and sending messages to property owners offering to refund overpayments for heating. The messages indicate the refund amount and urge recipients to click on a link to transfer the money,” the housing inspectorate said.

Tatarstan residents are urged not to believe the scammers. They are reminded that management and resource-supplying organizations never return money directly to residents — they deduct the recalculated amount from subsequent payments.

“If you have any doubts, contact your management company through Gosuslugi Dom (the state services housing app) or via your personal account on your management company’s website. Never share your personal data or SMS codes with anyone, and do not click on suspicious links,” the inspectorate urged.

They also asked residents to warn elderly relatives about this scam.

Recall that at the end of January, scammers deceived Tatarstan residents amid inspections of gas water heaters. They impersonated the republic’s chief state housing inspector, Alexander Tygyn, and asked for SMS codes.