An independent reference on digital safety. Not affiliated with the former website on this domain; we do not sell or promise documents, diplomas or "earnings". This is not legal advice — if you have been defrauded, contact your bank and the police.
Security
Fraud schemes change their names and look, but they work in similar ways: a promise of gain, pressure and urgency, a request to pay up front or hand over your details. This section describes the most common schemes, their warning signs and what Russian law says about them. We do not name specific websites or companies: what matters is learning to recognise the scheme, not memorising names that keep changing.
Guaranteed high income, a diploma without study, a prize without a draw — all these promises have the same price: your money and your data.
How this section works: we describe schemes in general terms, without naming websites, companies or people and without made-up statistics. Legal references are to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Federal Law No. 259-FZ; this is general information, not legal advice.
Six schemes that users encounter most often.
Ads for "turnkey" diplomas, school certificates and other papers. Such a document is a forgery: it is not in any official register, and in Russia making, selling and using it is prohibited by Article 327 of the Criminal Code. Often the seller simply takes the money.
Participants are paid out of new participants' contributions. Warning signs: guaranteed high returns, rewards for recruiting people, no clear product. In Russia, organising such activity falls under Article 172.2 of the Criminal Code.
Work "with no experience or investment" that you first have to pay for: training, access, an "insurance deposit". Sometimes people are drawn in as money mules — other people's money is moved through their card.
Platforms and "account managers" promising guaranteed income from cryptocurrency. The numbers on the screen keep growing, but you cannot withdraw the money: you are asked to pay extra "tax" or a "fee".
Emails, messages and websites that imitate a bank, shop or service to get your password, code or card details. Sign in to services only through the official app or an address you type yourself.
A call or pop-up about a "virus" or "suspicious transaction" asking you to install remote access software or read out a code. Real support never asks for codes.
Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency: its description was published in 2008 under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, and the network went live in January 2009. Many other digital currencies have appeared since, and with them many schemes that exploit interest in them.
In Russia, Federal Law No. 259-FZ "On Digital Financial Assets, Digital Currency…" was adopted in 2020 and came into force on 1 January 2021. Among other things, it prohibits accepting digital currency as payment for goods and services. So a request to pay for a "product" or "service" in cryptocurrency is an extra reason to be wary.
Cryptocurrency in itself is not fraud, but a promise of guaranteed income from it is a typical sign of a scam. We do not give investment advice: for questions about financial organisations and financial literacy, refer to the Bank of Russia's materials or your national financial regulator.
Why a "turnkey diploma" is a forged document, what the buyer risks and how to verify that a diploma is genuine.
What to do if your email or account was hacked, you sent money to scammers or your card details were leaked.
Glossary: accounts and passwords, money and fraud schemes, documents.
Laws, bank rules and service features change. This information is based on official sources as of the preparation date — check the current versions of laws and the instructions of the services themselves.