Borrowing money? Double check. Scammers may write on behalf of friends, relatives, or colleagues:
"Hello! Can you borrow some money? It's very urgent. Please transfer it to this card."
Such a message may seem completely normal — especially if it comes from someone you know well.
But a scammer may be behind a familiar account.
Attackers gain access to accounts on Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other messengers and, on behalf of the owner, contact their contacts with a request for financial assistance.
They may use your name, profile photo, communication style, and even know certain details about you, which is why it's easy to mistake such a message for real.
How not to get caught?
If a friend asks you to borrow money online:
Call him.
Don't just check the request in the messenger where it was received. Use a regular phone call or other communication channel.
Check the request.
Make sure that the message was actually sent by your friend.
Take your time.
Phrases like “urgent,” “right now,” “can’t call,” or “really need it” can be a way to get you to act emotionally.
Do not transfer funds to unverified cards or phone numbers.
The main rule: If someone asks for money in a messenger, first check the person and only then make a decision.
What to do if a friend's account has been hacked?
If during the phone conversation it turns out that the person did not ask you for money, inform them about a possible account hack.
Please advise:
- change password;
- enable two-factor authentication;
- check active sessions and terminate suspicious ones;
- warn friends, relatives and colleagues about possible fraud;
- report the incident to the Cyber Police and CERT-UA.
What if the money has already been transferred?
Do not delete the correspondence.
Save screenshots of messages, card details, phone number, profile link, and transfer receipt.
Report the fraud to your bank as soon as possible and contact law enforcement.
A safe digital space starts with everyone
"Loan money" schemes are just one example of how scammers exploit people's trust and digital technologies.
Today, the information space has become an important part of our security. Not only useful information and news are spread through social networks and messengers, but also disinformation, propaganda, manipulation, fraudulent schemes, and dangerous content.
That is why it is important not only to be able to protect our own accounts and funds, but also to be responsible about the information we receive and distribute.
GATE — protection that begins with everyone
One of the social projects aimed at improving digital and information security is BRAMA.
The project unites citizens, state institutions, and responsible businesses for a common goal — to make the Ukrainian information space safer.
The name "GATE" symbolizes protection and a kind of boundary between a safe and dangerous information environment. Today, such a "gate" is especially important in the digital space, where every user can encounter fraud, fakes, manipulation, or hostile propaganda.
As noted by the senior operations officer of the 9th department of the Cybercrime Countermeasures Department in Kyiv, Police Captain Ihor Chepur:
"Information security begins with the behavior of each user. It is important to critically evaluate the information received, check the sources, not follow dubious links, and not transfer their personal and banking data to third parties. At the same time, citizens can not only protect themselves, but also help others. If a person notices a dangerous resource, a fraudulent scheme, or other harmful content, it is important not to ignore it, but to report it through the appropriate mechanisms. That is why initiatives such as BRAMA are important. They help unite the efforts of the state and civil society in countering information threats."
What can everyone do?
Digital security is not only the task of law enforcement or cybersecurity specialists.
Every user can contribute:
verify information before sharing it;
do not open suspicious links;
do not share passwords, confirmation codes and bank details with third parties;
report fraudulent schemes and dangerous resources;
increase one's own digital and media literacy;
Tell your loved ones about new scams.
It is from such simple actions that the digital resilience of society is formed.
BRAMA is a shared responsibility
Project participants can join in combating dangerous content, receive information about current threats, increase their level of media literacy, and learn the rules of cyber hygiene.
During the project, users sent over 140,000 messages about potentially dangerous resources, and the community has blocked more than 26,000 sources of inappropriate content.
Behind each number is a specific action of a person who decided not to stay away.
Sometimes a few minutes of attention can save your money. And a few minutes of indifference can help protect others.
Watch and share
To make digital safety information more accessible to a wider audience, we have also created videos with sign language translation and subtitles.
Video "Borrow Money"
Watch and share the video with your friends, family, and colleagues. One piece of advice received in a timely manner can help a person avoid losing their own money.
REMEMBER
Friends can ask for money on messenger. But scammers can write on their behalf.
Don't trust a message just because it comes from a familiar account.
Stop. Call. Check.
And only after that, make a decision about transferring funds.
GATE — protection that begins with everyone.
