Today, almost everyone leaves a digital footprint — information about themselves on the internet. These are data that appear when you use your phone, social media, money transfers, or simply visit websites.
A digital footprint includes:
— Phone number and email address;
— Your photos;
— Activity in messengers;
— Social media accounts;
— Transfer and purchase history;
— Data you enter on websites.
Scammers in Russia and other countries actively use digital footprints to deceive people, especially migrants. They collect data from open sources: comments, suspicious websites, fake profiles, and groups in messengers.
With even minimal information — your last name, phone number, or photo — fraudsters can:
- Call you pretending to be bank or police officers;
- Create fake pages in your name;
- Try to gain access to your phone or accounts;
- Send links to malicious websites;
- Carry out fraudulent transfers.
The more data that is available, the easier it is for scammers to create a convincing fraud scheme.
How to Protect Yourself?
1. Do not publish your phone number or passport details in public channels. Scammers regularly collect such contacts.
2. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, especially in Telegram, banking apps, and money transfer services.
3. Do not click on links from unfamiliar messages, even if they claim to be from a “friend,” “colleague,” or “bank employee.”
4. Verify a company’s official channels. Legitimate services publish links only on their official websites and apps.
Therefore, we are sharing the link to our official Telegram channel again: SalamPay.
5. Never share verification codes with anyone, even if you are being rushed, threatened, or offered bonuses.
Scammers act quickly and confidently. They take advantage of the fact that people may be tired, in a hurry, or not fully fluent in Russian. Always double-check information. If in doubt, do not respond and do not click on any links.
