Increase in Deceptive Calls Across Yakutia Reaches Nearly Double Figures
The digital landscape of MTS and its "Protector" service tackled a whopping 10 million spam calls in Yakutia during Q1 of '25, surging from the prior year's figures. In the span of three months, these pesky scams became more persistent, with March being the most active month at 3.7 million attempts. In comparison, February saw 3 million attempted scams - a decrease from the 1.6 million recorded in February '24.
Yakutia faced the brunt of it, but the issue wasn't confined to this region. The main fraud strategies remained devious and consistent - impersonation, bogus surveys, andbank shenanigans. The determination of these scammers left one poor soul fielding an astounding 6,500+ spam calls and accumulating a whopping 2.4 million minutes of unwanted chatter.
Prokopy Neustruev, MTS Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Director, expressed concern over the increasing trend of spam calls. "With scammers constantly honing their tactics, it can be alarming even for the most security-savvy citizens. That's where 'Protector' - our spam-blocking, AI-enhanced calling, and phone fraud insurance service - proves to be extremely helpful," he asserted.
Note
The "Protector" service, an offering from MTS's digital security suite, includes spam call blockage, AI support during calls, and premium fraud insurance coverage. Notably, MTS "Protector" is accessible to MTS subscribers, while the mobile app can be downloaded by users of other operators as well.
Fraudster's Arsenal:
Fraudsters use a host of deceptive tactics in their spam call campaigns, including impersonation scams, tech support scams, prize/lottery scams, charity scams, extortion scams, government impersonation scams, and romance/emergency scams. These methods are designed to exploit personal information, solicit payments, and access devices.
'Protector' - A Shield Against Spam:
While specific details concerning the 'Protector' service from MTS are scarce, similar services generally offer a suite of protective features. These features include blocking suspected spam numbers, call screening, caller ID verification, real-time alerts, and customizable settings. These defensive measures help users steer clear of scammers and reduce the risk of falling victim to common fraud schemes associated with spam calls.
For a comprehensive understanding of the 'Protector' service from MTS, consult the official MTS documentation or reach out to their customer support team.
- Despite Yakutia being the primary target, the issue of rampant spam calls extended beyond the region, with fraudsters employing strategies such as impersonation, bogus surveys, and bank shenanigans, among others.
- In the first quarter of '25, MTS's "Protector" service successfully blocked over 10 million spam calls in Yakutia, with the service's offerings including spam call blocking, AI support during calls, and fraud insurance coverage.
- The services from MTS, such as 'Protector', prove helpful in combatting the growing trend of spam calls, providing features like blocking suspected spam numbers, call screening, and real-time alerts, thereby reducing the risk of falling victim to common fraud schemes.
- General-news and crime-and-justice outlets have reported on the increasing persistence of spam callers, with an astounding 6,500+ spam calls received by one individual and a total accumulated duration of 2.4 million minutes of unwanted chatter.
