Ahead of the Unified State Exam (USE) in Russia, the number of fraudulent schemes targeting schoolchildren and their parents has sharply increased. VTB warns: scammers are exploiting graduates’ stress and promising “guaranteed” exam assistance—from neural networks with answers to hidden headphones.
Scammers are particularly active through Telegram, social media, and parent chats. Graduates are being sent mass invitations to “secret AI bots” that are supposedly capable of solving USE assignments in real time, writing perfect essays, and transmitting prepared answers directly during the exam.
In reality, after paying, students either receive useless open-source materials or lose access to the “service” altogether. In some cases, scammers send malicious APK files disguised as cheat sheets or exam-related apps. Once installed, attackers gain access to smartphones and banking information.
Parents of graduates are also under attack. VTB reports that fake accounts of “school representatives” or “USE organizers” are appearing in parent chats. They demand an urgent transfer of money, allegedly for printing passes, special forms, or organizing meals.
Experts advise not to follow suspicious links, not to download unknown applications, and to verify any information through the school or official sources.
