Fake profiles of ‘distressed’ Ukrainians detected on social media

In recent days, web scammers are taking advantage of the war in Ukraine to trick Internet users and extract money from them on social networks.

As sad as it may seem, the situation between Ukraine and Russia makes people happy. On social networks, some malicious individuals are indeed taking advantage of the situation to defraud Internet users, by creating false profiles of suffering Ukrainian citizens, to steal money from victims who, sensitive and pained by the war, are convinced of have done a good deed.

Taking advantage of the war to spread bitcoin scams: hackers can’t be stopped

In recent days, Avast, the Czech specialist in antivirus solutions which has employees and customers in both Ukraine and Russia, has spotted a number of accounts, maintained by scammers on social networks, Twitter in the lead. Hackers pose as desperate Ukrainians who claim to be in need, seeking financial assistance.

” Unfortunately, these abusers have no ethics and take every opportunity to extract money from people who want to help people in need. “Wrote Avast on Monday, keen to draw attention and educate those who might fall into the trap.

Often, a detail can immediately put you on the alert: it is the mention of Bitcoin. Usernames, regularly composed of numbers and letters, can also alert.

Scammers spread their scams on social networks like Twitter or TikTok

ESET, a Slovak computer security company that also enjoys worldwide notoriety, has spotted another scam, in which hackers direct potential victims to a web page. This then asks Internet users to support Ukrainians by buying “UkraineTokens”, sometimes via particularly attractive URLs, such as help-for-ukraine[.]had. ” Cybercriminals have no shame », Regrets ESET. ” With no humanitarian organization and only one generic purpose mentioned, scammers try to extract money from people trying to help Ukraine during the war “, laments the company.

It is obviously possible that some cryptocurrency initiatives are legitimate, but it is difficult to know which ones to identify. Avast has spotted a Russian underground forum where someone is asking fellow forum users for $1.2 in Bitcoin to help out, claiming they are in dire straits. ” Interestingly, Bitcoin transaction fees are higher than the requested amount “, explains the cyber specialist.

Several such scams have also surfaced on TikTok and other social networks. In any case, we can only advise you not to send money to people you don’t know, ” in particular in any form of cryptocurrency “, insists Avast, who recalls that through this, it is difficult to know if we are dealing with a person really in need or a scammer. To help the Ukrainian people, the solution of official organizations known to the general public remains to be preferred.