Scammers are creating fake versions of chatbots that mimic government and volunteer services. Their goal is to obtain sensitive information or steal money.
Detecting and blocking these pages is not easy. Cyber police are constantly working on this issue, but as one page is shut down, another pops up.
The chatbot used to report the movements of Russian military forces has several clones. Another chatbot for purchasing tickets has also caught the attention of scammers. Some of these imitations may be inactive, complicating matters for users at critical times. All these bots are uncontrolled, and their authors can change the payment mechanism at any moment.
How to identify a fake bot?
Fake chatbots:
- Look almost identical to real bots, differing only by an extra character in the name.
- Lack a blue verification badge or use a counterfeit one.
- May respond in Russian or have menus in that language.
- Can be inactive, creating an impression of poor-quality government services.
To confirm that you are using a legitimate bot, use the “Botchecker” tool at Dovidka.info.
What is the botchecker?
This is a database of verified Ukrainian chatbots, created by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications in collaboration with cyber police. Over the past three years, more than 100,000 people have used the botchecker.
“In 2022, we developed the botchecker to help people identify fraudulent chatbots. Scammers often clone government services, so it is important to be cautious. We encourage everyone to share this information and teach their loved ones how to protect themselves,” said a representative of the Center for Strategic Communications.
How to use the botchecker?
- Enter the name or link of the chatbot in the search field.
- Get information about its authenticity and developer.
- If the bot is not in the database, report it to the cyber police using @stopdrugsbot on Telegram.
Be cautious! Do not give the enemy a chance to deceive you and gain access to your data or money!