New scam scheme: voting for children's drawings steals data

      Criminals have devised a new trick to deceive Russians. They are sending messages pretending to be acquaintances, asking them to vote for a child's drawing in a charity contest. Clicking on the link leads to the download of malware and theft of personal data.

      How the new scheme works

      Fraudsters are constantly improving their methods of deception. The fresh scheme targets the most vulnerable aspect—trust in acquaintances and the desire to help a child. Criminals send messages in messengers and social networks, posing as friends or relatives of the potential victim. They ask for a couple of minutes to support the "relative's child," who supposedly participates in a charity contest for children's drawings. A link to the voting page is attached to the message.

      What happens when you click on the link

      At first glance, everything looks plausible: a page opens with drawings, a voting button, and a touching story about the contest. But this is just a cover.

      In reality, the link leads to a phishing site. When clicked, malware automatically begins downloading onto the victim's device. After installation, this software gives criminals remote access to the smartphone or computer.

      What are the risks

      Once they gain remote access, fraudsters can:

      - steal usernames and passwords from banking apps;

      - intercept SMS with confirmation codes;

      - steal personal photos and documents;

      - use the device to send malicious links to the victim's contacts.

      This scheme is particularly dangerous because the message appears to come from a familiar person. The victim's vigilance decreases, making them more likely to click on the link.

      How to protect yourself

      Cybersecurity experts recommend:

      - Double-check information. If an acquaintance asks you to vote, call them and confirm whether they sent such a message. Their account may have already been hacked.

      - Do not click on suspicious links. Even if they come from a relative. Pay close attention to the website address—phishing pages often have strange domains.

      - Do not download unknown files. If clicking on a link starts downloading an app or program, immediately cancel the action.

      - Inform your loved ones. Warn relatives, especially the older generation, about the new scheme.

      What to do if you have already clicked on the link

      If you accidentally opened the link and noticed a suspicious download:

      - immediately disconnect the device from the internet;

      - run an antivirus scan;

      - change passwords for important services (bank, email, social networks);

      - contact your bank to block suspicious transactions.

      Remember: vigilance is the main shield against fraudsters. It's better to spend a minute verifying information than to lose money and time recovering later.

      Yulia Kazamarova

      More news about the event:

      A new scheme by fraudsters: voting for children's drawings steals data

      Criminals have devised a new trick to deceive Russians. They are sending messages pretending to be acquaintances, asking them to vote for a child's drawing in a charity contest. 08:54 17.04.2026 News of Zainsk - Zainsk

      A new scheme by fraudsters: voting for children's drawings steals data

      Criminals have devised a new trick to deceive Russians. They are sending messages pretending to be acquaintances, asking them to vote for a child's drawing in a charity contest. 08:34 17.04.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Fraudsters deceive Samara residents through children's drawing contests

      Scammers write to Samara residents in messengers posing as acquaintances and ask them to vote for a child in a charity drawing contest. 08:56 17.04.2026 SamaraGIS.Ru - Samara

      Details revealed about the fraudulent scheme with the children's drawing contest

      Fraudsters impersonate acquaintances and ask Russians to vote for children's drawings. Photo: 06:20 17.04.2026 RTV-Podmoskovie - Podmoskovie

      Fraudsters lure Russians with voting for children's drawings: a new deception scheme

      Fraudsters, posing as friends, ask to vote in the children's drawing contest. Photo: REUTERS. 12:02 17.04.2026 Komsomolskaya Pravda - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

      Fraudsters are using a new scheme to deceive Russians ahead of Victory Day

      The Ministry of Internal Affairs warns: fraudsters are using a new scheme to deceive pensioners ahead of May 9. 17:55 15.04.2026 Ulyanovsk Today - Ulyanovsk

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