Scammers are posing as specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ service centers: how to avoid falling for their tricks

29 May 03:21

Fraudsters posing as government employees—specifically, staff at service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs—have become more active in Ukraine. These criminals offer Ukrainians “assistance” in accessing government services, but are actually trying to trick them into revealing personal or banking information.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Cyber Police have issued warnings about these new scams, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"

Law enforcement officials emphasize: appointments at the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ service centers are free and can only be made through official channels. Service center employees do not ask for passwords, SMS codes, or bank card details over the phone.

How the scammers operate

According to the National Police, criminals may pose as employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ service centers or as intermediaries who allegedly help expedite access to government services.

Most often, they offer “fast-track” appointments at the service center for a fee, send links to fake websites or chatbots that look like official resources, and call or message citizens asking for personal information.

The goal of these actions is to gain access to a person’s personal information, copies of documents, electronic signatures, bank details, or accounts.

The most common scams

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Cyber Police have identified several of the most common schemes used by scammers.

These include:

“fast-track” registration at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center for a fee;
fake websites that mimic official resources;
fake chatbots;
calls purportedly from government officials;
messages asking for personal or banking information;
demands to send copies of documents or an electronic signature.

Such schemes can appear convincing, as attackers often use the names of government agencies, similar website designs, an official tone of communication, and psychological pressure.

Appointments at MIA service centers are free

The National Police remind the public: making an appointment at Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers does not require payment to intermediaries. It is free and can only be done through official channels.

Therefore, any offers to “make an appointment faster,” “find an available slot for a fee,” or “process the service without waiting in line” may be fraudulent.

Citizens are advised not to click on suspicious links and not to use websites or chatbots unless they are certain that it is an official resource.

What information should not be shared with third parties

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers do not ask for passwords, SMS codes, bank card details, or other confidential information over the phone.

Ukrainians are urged not to provide the following to third parties:

copies of their passport;
identification code;
bank details;
CVV codes;
SMS verification codes;
account passwords;
digital signature;
access to “Dii” or other government services.

Sharing such data may result in financial loss, fraudulent transactions, or the illegal use of personal information.

How to verify if a website is official

Before entering any data, you should carefully check the website address. Scammers often create sites that look similar to official ones but have a different address, extra characters, typos, or suspicious domains.

You should also avoid clicking on links in random messages on messaging apps, social media, or via SMS.

If in doubt, it’s better to find the institution’s official website yourself via a search engine or use verified communication channels.

What to do if you encounter scammers

If you suspect fraud, citizens are urged to contact the Cyber Police or call 102.

If you have already provided bank details or an SMS code, you should immediately contact your bank and block your card. If you have submitted documents or an electronic signature, you should contact the relevant institutions as soon as possible to block or revoke access.

Why do scammers impersonate government agencies?

Government services inspire trust in people and are often associated with documents, queues, appointments, and personal data. That is why scammers use the names of government agencies to create an impression of officialdom.

Additionally, scammers often exploit people’s desire to receive services more quickly. An offer to “help you skip the line” may seem convenient, but it is often a trap.