Telegram has a new fraudulent scheme with children's contests

Telegram users have begun to face a new scam when they receive messages with a request to support the child of a friend in the competition and vote for his work on the site competitions.

How the scheme works

Following the received link usually leads to a fake page, where, for authorization, it is suggested to indicate a phone number, and then enter the received code. If you specify the authorization code from Telegram there, then the attackers will easily take over the account.

With stolen accounts, the scheme is repeated - messages are sent to the contacts of hacked accounts and publics where their owners were.

About the increase in such cases writes RBC with reference to cybersecurity experts from Group-IB. They also noted that such mailings may contain links to phishing and fraudulent sites, as well as files or links to download malware.

How not to fall for the bait

It's simple: you can not follow suspicious links in messages, enter credentials and personal data on dubious pages. Even if a well-known person asks you for something, first make sure that it is really him and that he has not been hacked.

How to secure an account

The best protection in this case is two-factor authentication. It is enabled in the settings in the "Privacy" section. When this feature is activated, the messenger will ask for an additional password every time you try to log into Telegram from a new device.

Also, in order to control personal data, it is periodically worth checking the "Active sessions" section in the "Devices" settings item. If there is an unfamiliar session, you must end it and change the password.

Experts note that now in the season of the New Year holidays, when people's heads are occupied with completely different concerns, scammers have become especially active. That is why people often enter the received SMS codes without looking, exposing their data to great danger. Be more careful, check suspicious messages more carefully and do not click on suspicious links.