Russia Warns of Rise in Bot-Driven Cybercrime

Scammers are increasingly using AI-powered bots to mimic support agents and trick victims into revealing sensitive data.

In 2025, Russian cybersecurity officials are sounding the alarm over a surge in cybercrime tactics involving bots. According to Maksim Korkin, head of the Moscow Regional Duma's Transport and IT Committee, scammers now deploy bots to impersonate customer service agents, tricking users into verifying personal data or entering credit card details.

One of the most common schemes involves a fake prompt that urges users to verify suspicious activity. The bots may also simulate representatives from online marketplaces or delivery services, requesting form submissions with payment credentials. Victims can lose hundreds of thousands of rubles in a single scam.

Gift offers and fake discount campaigns remain popular phishing tools. They often require victims to register and provide banking information, under the guise of promotional deals.

In a related trend, other experts have reported a rise in spoofed emails appearing to come from trusted institutions or company leadership. These messages frequently contain malicious attachments or links.

Cyber experts emphasize that caution online is the first line of defense. Avoiding interaction with suspicious links or bots can prevent personal and financial data loss.