"Couldn't deny myself the pleasure of trolling." How Belarusians talk to phone scammers
Replacing water meters or intercoms, recalculating pensions, checking work documents via messenger – it's even surprising that these scam schemes still work, and people lose money. Onliner.by spoke with Belarusians who managed to timely decipher the extortionists' plan and save their savings.
"Your husband is a suspect, you are an accomplice"
Aksana recounts how once, when her husband was at work, he received a call from the "pension fund" and was warned: for a recalculation of payments, he needed to visit the social security office; they even named the specific room. To confirm the appointment, they asked him to state the numbers from the received message.
— Very plausible. My husband didn't even think about fraud, believed them, and gave the code that supposedly came in a message from the bank, — Aksana recalls.
After this, the man received a call from the "State Control Committee" – first, a girl who introduced herself as a leading specialist of a non-existent department for financial operations control, accused Aksana's husband of financing terrorism. Allegedly, the man disclosed a code that scammers used to transfer money. For such a "service," he was supposedly paid 5,000 rubles.
For this, the female voice warns, the man faces a trial where it will be determined whether he is a victim or a suspect. (According to the Criminal Procedure Code of Belarus, a suspect is "an individual detained on suspicion of a crime, or a person against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated by the criminal prosecution body or a decision has been issued to apply a preventive measure before a decision to bring charges against him as an accused, or recognizing him as a suspect." This is not done by phone, but by an official document, handed over only in person).
Anyway, the "victim" is kept on the line for more than an hour.
As a result, the "employee" reports that the information has been passed to management, and soon Aksana's husband will receive a call from a "financial police colonel." A few minutes later, a video call indeed comes from a person in clothing purporting to be a KDK (State Control Committee) employee's uniform.
By this time, the man had already returned home, where Aksana also joined the conversation. She says she immediately realized that the family was being "scammed".
The fake employee explains to the interlocutors: to avoid punishment, Aksana's husband needs to prove that he is not guilty of transferring money and receiving remuneration.
— So what exactly do we need to do? — Aksana clarifies.
— Don't interfere with your husband, — the "KDK employee" sharply replies. — In this case, you are listed as an accomplice.
— I would like to come to you.
— Why are you grimacing, I don't understand. Do you have some kind of psychosis or what's the matter? — the fake employee presses Aksana.
— Of course, it's psychosis. I'm so exhausted from them scamming us like this.
The scammers threaten that the family will face a search, during which "money kept in cash form without a corresponding document will be confiscated."
This document — a "list for the declaration of cash savings," which is supposed to prove the legality of the money's origin — is also a figment of the criminals' imagination. Nevertheless, the man in uniform confidently states:
— Every six months, a citizen of the Republic of Belarus is obliged to undergo the procedure of declaring their funds, because cases of fraud have become more frequent.
— If you don't watch the news, that's not my problem (in reality, in Belarus, declarations are submitted once a year, and only after selling a car or apartment and in some other cases, and by no means "every citizen"). From your words, it has already been recorded that $5,000 and €5,000 are stored at home.
— We don't have that kind of money, — Aksana exclaims.
— For this purpose, we will now draw up a protocol to correctly enter the amount, meaning the denominations and number of banknotes that you have in cash, regardless of the currency, regardless of its origin. After that, I will forward the protocol to the justice authorities, and they will allow these funds to be declared. Subsequently, an employee of the National Bank will be dispatched to assist in declaring this money, — the fraudsters continue to insist.
At this point, Aksana stops the conversation, stating that she will go to the police. And she did. From her words, it was understood that law enforcement confirmed: the family was indeed in contact with scammers.
"All the best, strong health to you"
Scammers contacted Liudmila on Telegram. First, they called the girl – she picked up but remained silent. There was silence in response too (we note that this is correct: the "victim's" silence will prevent scammers from obtaining a sample of your voice, which they could later use in further "scam" schemes).
After an unsuccessful attempt to speak, Liudmila was contacted on the same messenger by the "director" of the organization where the girl works. Her colleagues had already received similar messages, but the company had warned everyone last year that these were scammers. Liudmila guessed that the director was fake and called the real manager back (this is exactly what we advise doing if a "boss" or "relative" contacts you: hang up and call them back).
— So I spoke boldly, and the scammers didn't know that a teacher wouldn't respond to a real director that way. I truly didn't have time to talk to them, it was actually my birthday, but I couldn't deny myself the pleasure of trolling them.
"They understood I wouldn't say the code and hung up"
Maksim believes that scammers gained access to some database that included his number. The young man receives calls several times a week — sometimes "postmen," sometimes "electricians."
— Once a girl addressed me by my full name and patronymic, introduced herself as an employee of "Belpochta" (Belarusian Post). She said that registered letters had arrived for me, asking why I wasn't collecting them. She asked for four digits from a Viber message. I said nothing had arrived, then she started to pressure me, intimidate me, and juggle words in every way. I even started to think I was the fool. I blocked her – and that's where the story ended.
A few days later, Maksim started receiving calls again — this time from a Russian number. The scammers introduced themselves as "Energozbyt" (energy supply company) employees.
— They warn that a technician will come to replace the meter. They agree on a date, time, and then say: "You will now receive an SMS from our partner (mobile operator) — provide the four digits, otherwise the technician won't be able to get to you." Word by word, they realized I wouldn't say the code, and they hung up themselves, — Maksim says similar schemes only make him smile.
"You need to register the code, show it"
Olga has a similar situation: steadily, once a month, she is offered to replace meters or an intercom, and also to receive a registered letter from the tax office. At the same time, the girl says, they call from the Czech Republic, then from Russia, then from Bangladesh. The result of such regular communication is that Olga understands from the interlocutor's first words that it will be a "scam".
The girl openly teases the scammer, who introduced himself as Evgeny Yurievich, calling "from the water utility" (this is a quote).
— You still haven't registered yourself for the free state replacement. I'd like to know why, — the man demands an explanation.
— At which address? I have two apartments, — Olga clarifies. The interlocutor cannot answer this question but does not give up.
— We need to record your turn. Please provide your full last name, first name, and patronymic. You also need to provide your identification number.
A similar conversation took place with Olga regarding intercom replacement. The scammer warns that tomorrow at ten in the morning a technician will replace the device. According to the "specialist," keys for the new intercom will be made in two to three days; during this time, entry to the building will be possible via a code.
— In each apartment, it will be personal. The system will now send you the code via SMS. It contains boilerplate text so that you don't share it with strangers after activation. Check if you've received it while I'm on the line. I need to note it down for the technician.
— So why did I receive a code from a mobile operator?
— This is our official communication operator; it provides the service for sending messages.
— But you make intercoms, don't you? — Olga "wonders" and reads the message: — "Strictly confidential. Do not share the code with third parties." And are you a third party now?
— No. I am registering it. The code is valid for 3 minutes, show it.
Realizing that he wouldn't get any code, the scammer hung up.
Journalists asked Olga to explain how she manages to guess who's on the line at the very beginning of the conversation.
— I would advise being critical of the information received and verifying facts. Don't be afraid to ask clarifying questions: address, organization, position.
Well, a mobile operator cannot send a code for an intercom, that's obvious.
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