“Schoolchild’s Package” under threat: parents warned about scam

The Ivano-Frankivsk region police draw the attention of citizens to the activation of scammers who use fake links disguised as the state program “Student Package” to steal bank details.

A resident of the Kolomyia district fell victim to these scammers. She came across an attractive ad on Facebook offering payment of 5,000 hryvnias within the framework of the program mentioned above. By clicking on the provided link, the woman ended up on a fake site that requested her to enter her bank details.

During the “registration” of the assistance, she was asked to enter her bank card details. As a result, the attackers gained access to her account and stole 20,000 hryvnias.

Fraudsters are known for creating phishing sites that visually mimic official government platforms, prompting users to disclose their data. As soon as the victim enters their card number, expiration date, and CVV code, the information falls into the hands of scammers, who instantly withdraw the money.

Law enforcement agencies have already initiated criminal proceedings under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability for fraud on a large scale.

The police urge citizens to be careful and follow basic cybersecurity rules. The recommendations include checking the website address for unnecessary characters, spelling errors, and suspicious domain names. Additionally, it is crucial to rely only on official sources of information about government programs, which are published on government websites.

If you have become a victim of Internet fraudsters, you should collect all possible evidence and contact the police by calling 102 as soon as possible.