Scammers disguise fake banking bots on Telegram as official ones

Scammers disguise fake banking bots on Telegram as official ones

In Ukraine, fraudsters have become active, creating fake bank chatbots in Telegram, disguising them as official ones. They mimic the "blue checkmark" and trick users into giving away confidential information, so it is important to use only verified sources.

This is reported by the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration. Pseudo-bots are created in Telegram with names that almost completely replicate the official ones.

To look convincing, an emoji resembling a verification mark is added to the name – this is the fake "blue checkmark". Visually, such a bot is almost indistinguishable from the true one, especially for inexperienced users.

The main goal of such bots is to get the victim to voluntarily provide confidential banking information. Among the most common requests are: PIN code, CVV2/CVC2 code, login, and password for mobile banking, and sometimes full bank card details.

By entering data into such a bot, a person essentially hands over their money to the fraudsters. Even a few digits may be enough to gain access to an account or make an unauthorized transaction.

The situation is complicated by the fact that fake accounts can quickly change names, create new copies, and use publicly available bank logos. Because of this, even a vigilant user risks making a mistake. The Ministry of Social Policy and banking institutions remind:

• verify the source where you enter your data — especially if it concerns payment information;
• never enter your PIN code, CVV code, login, or password from mobile banking into chatbots, no official bank ever asks for this information through messengers;
• use only official communication channels with the bank:
• mobile application;
• official website;
• contact number on the back of your bank card;
• direct links to chatbots available from official websites.

Be particularly careful when interacting with bots in Telegram, even if they appear "professional". No technical sophistication is worth compromising your financial security.