Systematic Fight Against Spam: MAX Blocks 67,000 Suspicious Accounts
In August 2025, Russia’s national messenger MAX blocked about 67,000 suspicious accounts, mostly for spam distribution. Accounts used for fraudulent activity were permanently removed. More than 13,000 malicious files were deleted. Users pressed the 'Report' button 27,000 times, and the average response time was under four minutes.
Building Trust in a National Product
MAX is a national messenger developed by VK, with a beta version launched in March 2025. Features include messaging, calls, file sharing up to 4 GB, channels, reactions, and notification settings. Plans include integration with government services, digital IDs, and education and healthcare platforms (SQNS).
Automated anti-fraud systems were deployed to block suspicious accounts, including solutions from Sber (designed to detect fraud and signs of coercion by attackers) and a joint project with Kaspersky Lab for automatic number verification and protection against phone scams.
Citizens benefit from higher levels of security, reduced fraud risks, and faster responses to reports. Russia promotes MAX as a safe alternative to foreign messengers, reducing dependence on overseas platforms. For the international community, such large-scale blocking illustrates a model of centralized control over digital communications, even if less explicitly framed that way.
Challenging Foreign Competitors
Blocking 67,000 suspicious accounts is a significant move, especially given that MAX is still a new player in the market. The effort is crucial for protecting users and strengthening trust in the national service. Spam and fraud remain pressing problems across mass communication platforms, and systematic responses help strengthen the position of domestic IT solutions.
Sber’s anti-fraud solutions and joint systems may not yet be positioned as export-ready products, but they hold clear potential inside Russia. The large-scale blocking highlights the opportunity to roll out anti-fraud technology across MAX and expand security features for the entire platform. The integration of new capabilities is creating a secure and convenient ecosystem, reinforcing VK’s image as a national digital provider and boosting competition with foreign messengers in the security segment.
Strengthening MAX’s Position
Between 2023 and 2025, Russian messengers and social networks began actively monitoring and blocking bots. In April 2025, Telegram removed several popular bots in a single day, including @getSendGiftsBot, which tracked collectible gift histories. Giftstat.com suggested that Telegram had deployed automated algorithms to block such bots as part of a campaign against third-party data collection in chats.
In 2025, Sber and VK, the developer of MAX, launched joint efforts to integrate anti-fraud technologies into the national messenger. These tools are designed not only to detect scammers but also to identify people under their influence and block suspicious transactions before funds are transferred.
At the same time, officials in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District were instructed to move their internal communications to MAX by mid-August, positioning the messenger as the primary platform for government work.
On September 8, 2025, an official channel for President Vladimir Putin appeared on MAX, set to publish daily updates on presidential activities. The messenger’s audience has already surpassed 30 million users. Each of these developments underscores MAX’s growing status as a secure communication platform.
Growing User Base and Export Potential
MAX is actively positioned as a secure national messenger with high levels of automation and responsiveness. Blocking tens of thousands of suspicious accounts strengthens its reputation for reliability. The participation of major players such as Sber, Kaspersky Lab, and government services builds an integrated ecosystem that enhances user confidence.
In the short term, MAX will continue integrating with government services, healthcare, and ID functionality. In the medium term, it is expected to grow its user base and establish itself as an alternative to foreign services, particularly in the public sector. While the messenger currently focuses on domestic security, in the long term, its security technologies could be exported or adapted for similar international markets—depending on the global political climate.
