Russia to Launch Biometric Database of Fraudsters by 2026

The government is building a system to track and block phone scammers using voice recognition and telecom data.

Russia plans to establish a national biometric database of fraudsters by April 2026. The initiative will require banks to utilize biometric data—including voice prints—collected from telecom operators to identify and block criminal activity. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has tasked the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Roskomnadzor, and the Central Bank with designing the unified system.

A new digital platform aimed at protecting citizens from remote fraud will go live in January 2026. The platform will let users access names and account numbers linked to scammers and will include a voiceprint database. Eventually, incoming calls will be flagged directly on users’ screens.

Mishustin previously instructed telecom providers to implement artificial intelligence to block scam calls—but emphasized that user consent is mandatory before deploying such tools.

Some Russian operators have already begun interrupting calls if a user receives a text message containing a bank or government service code during the conversation. This preventive measure is intended to stop fraud victims from transferring money to fake “safe” accounts.