Overview

• Cyber police report that dating-app swindlers now demand a receipt be sent to a “special” Telegram bot, then claim the money went to Ukrainian armed groups and extort further payments under threats to report the victim.
• Offenders target minors by soliciting location data and issuing menacing claims about passing it to intelligence services or even deploying drones.
• A wave of messenger-based offers to source or ferry cars from abroad involves pushing victims to install a crypto wallet and transfer large sums as a supposed deposit or proof of solvency.
• Typical red flags include prices far below market levels, requirements to pay exclusively in cryptocurrency, urgent pressure to close a deal, and links for “payment confirmation” or “document processing.”
• Authorities urge users to cut off conversations that pivot to intimate content or personal data, avoid unknown links, keep devices protected with reputable antivirus tools, refuse to negotiate or pay extortionists, and report incidents to police.