Russian Crypto Investors Lose Over $300 Million to Scams

Cryptocurrency scams in Russia are on the rise, with over 25 billion rubles stolen from investors in 2026. Cybersecurity specialist Pavel Yakovlev notes that scammers target human trust rather than attempting to hack blockchain technology. They persuade users to transfer funds or disclose account information.

Some common schemes used by scammers include 'cryptocurrency arbitrage', where a guaranteed return of around 20% is promised on exchange rate differences, but the second platform turns out to be a phishing copy. Another scheme involves fake video calls, where users are tricked into entering their credentials while participating in a conversation.

Beginner investors are particularly vulnerable due to the lack of purchase restrictions and their tendency to view cryptocurrencies as bank deposits with lower risk levels.