Donot share personal or financial information with unknown individuals.
Do not engage in telephone conversations with suspicious people, especially if they are trying to frighten you or make you feel uncomfortable.
Do not click on any links in SMS messages or email newsletters that are sent to you from unknown senders. When you click on a link sent to your phone, it can download a virus and debit funds from your account.
Be wary of emails or messages asking for money or claiming to be from a colleague, friend or family member in need of help. Verify the information before taking any action.
Avoid entering into any transactions that seem questionable or suspicious.
Never entrust your money or property to strangers or people you do not know, even if they seem friendly or attractive.
Be cautious of strangers offering assistance or trying to sell you goods on the street.
Check commercial organisations through official Internet resources to ensure they are legitimate.
Mobile phone scams
There are many fraudulent schemes. The most common ones, both in terms of the number of victims and the damage caused, are telephone scams. These occur when fraudsters call people under the guise of being police officers or bank employees, telling them that criminals are attempting to withdraw money or offering to lend money, but for which the victim needs to transfer their money to a secret account or share sensitive information. Once the victim has done so, the money simply disappears.
Be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages asking for personal information or money. Do not provide any sensitive information over the phone.
Do not respond to calls from unknown numbers, especially those claiming to be from banks, government agencies, or other institutions.
You should understand that representatives from the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the security services do not operate by phone!
They can only come in person or be summoned if something serious occurs.
Be wary of calls asking for verification codes or passwords. Never share these details with anyone over the phone.
If you have been deceived by phone scammers, you should call the hotline of your bank using the phone number listed on their official website.
Immediately after that, you should contact the nearest police station to make a statement about a crime that has been committed against you. The theft of money is a serious criminal offence and should be reported to the appropriate authorities.
It can be done:
In person - at the nearest police station;
Online - on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the "Appeals" section;
By phone - 102 or 112.
Taxi scams
Anti-fraud taxi tips
Use only licensed taxi services or reputable ride-sharing apps (Yandex.Go, CityMobil, Uber).
Confirm the fare before starting the journey and ensure the metre is working properly.
Be cautious of drivers who insist on taking a specific route or who overcharge for the service.
Pay attention to the driver's behaviour and report any suspicious activity to the police.
In the event of fraud during your taxi ride, please immediately contact the taxi company's customer service. A similar option is available through all taxi aggregator services such as Yandex.Go or Uber. You should receive a formal apology and a full refund for the trip. Additionally, you may be offered a special discount code for future trips as a gesture of good faith.
Here is a list of the most common taxi services in Moscow: