“Hello, Mom!” – as one of the most common types of fraud
The criminal fraud scheme "Hello, Mom!" began to be widely used in 2022. Dozens of deceived elderly citizens of our country spared nothing to save their loved ones, who allegedly got into a car accident. Malefactors call elderly people and say that their son or daughter has become the perpetrator of an accident, and money is urgently needed to be released from responsibility or for treatment. Without interrupting the conversation, they send an accomplice to the specified address. From the transfer of cash to the realization of the situation, as a rule, more than one hour passes. In some cases, the fraudsters themselves pose as relatives, imitating crying or the consequences of an injury that affected their voice.
How the scheme works:
1. On various websites, including thematic Telegram channels, malefactors post job advertisements for couriers. Citizens who apply for a part-time job are asked for personal data, a photo of their passport, and undergo other procedures that allow for accurate identification. During the "employment," couriers are informed about their part of the work and even receive a certain percentage of the stolen amount.
2. The victim receives a call from an "investigator," "policeman," or "lawyer" on their mobile phone. During the conversation, the victim is persuaded to transfer money to an "investigator's assistant," "lawyer," etc. To distract attention and buy time, malefactors may force the victim to write a statement ofvoluntary compensation for damages caused in a road traffic accident, for surgery for the "victim" of the accident, and a request for non-prosecution. The call is made from abroad and is intentionally prolonged to give the courier time to arrive. In parallel with the conversation, the hired courier is informed of the address and sets off to collect the money.
3. According to available information, couriers are instructed in advance to travel to the city or town whose residents will be receiving calls. Therefore, if the police report couriers arriving in the region, it is advisable to immediately notify your relatives in the "risk zone."
4. Next, a call is received from the "investigator" on the mobile phone, who asks not to interrupt the conversation on the landline and persuades the victim to hand over the money to the "investigator's assistant," "lawyer," etc. The courier is given the precise address and sets off to collect the money. The attackers may also ask the relative to pack things for the hospital or a detention cell: a mug, bedding, a towel, and so on, also to buy time.
Throughout this time, until the courier confirms the receipt of the money, the deceived person remains in contact with the criminals.
Reports of committed crimes are received by the police hours or even days later, whichgives criminals time to transfer money.
Who is at "risk"?
The most frequent victims of this fraud scheme are women aged 60 and older.
What are the amounts of damage?
Your loved ones' entire savings are at stake! Grandparents spare no expense to save their loved ones and give couriers four-digit sums in rubles and foreign currency.
How to protect from danger?
Do not spare a few minutes of phone conversation for your loved ones, or better yet, face-to-face communication, and tell them about the criminals' scheme.
How the scheme works:
1. On various websites, including thematic Telegram channels, malefactors post job advertisements for couriers. Citizens who apply for a part-time job are asked for personal data, a photo of their passport, and undergo other procedures that allow for accurate identification. During the "employment," couriers are informed about their part of the work and even receive a certain percentage of the stolen amount.
2. The victim receives a call from an "investigator," "policeman," or "lawyer" on their mobile phone. During the conversation, the victim is persuaded to transfer money to an "investigator's assistant," "lawyer," etc. To distract attention and buy time, malefactors may force the victim to write a statement ofvoluntary compensation for damages caused in a road traffic accident, for surgery for the "victim" of the accident, and a request for non-prosecution. The call is made from abroad and is intentionally prolonged to give the courier time to arrive. In parallel with the conversation, the hired courier is informed of the address and sets off to collect the money.
3. According to available information, couriers are instructed in advance to travel to the city or town whose residents will be receiving calls. Therefore, if the police report couriers arriving in the region, it is advisable to immediately notify your relatives in the "risk zone."
4. Next, a call is received from the "investigator" on the mobile phone, who asks not to interrupt the conversation on the landline and persuades the victim to hand over the money to the "investigator's assistant," "lawyer," etc. The courier is given the precise address and sets off to collect the money. The attackers may also ask the relative to pack things for the hospital or a detention cell: a mug, bedding, a towel, and so on, also to buy time.
Throughout this time, until the courier confirms the receipt of the money, the deceived person remains in contact with the criminals.
Reports of committed crimes are received by the police hours or even days later, whichgives criminals time to transfer money.
Who is at "risk"?
The most frequent victims of this fraud scheme are women aged 60 and older.
What are the amounts of damage?
Your loved ones' entire savings are at stake! Grandparents spare no expense to save their loved ones and give couriers four-digit sums in rubles and foreign currency.
How to protect from danger?
Do not spare a few minutes of phone conversation for your loved ones, or better yet, face-to-face communication, and tell them about the criminals' scheme.