Uzbekistan's State Security Service (SGB) has issued a warning to citizens following a surge in suspicious calls from foreign phone numbers. Agency specialists conducted a detailed analysis of cyber threats and identified complex technical schemes used by fraudsters to steal funds and personal data from Uzbek citizens.

According to expert data, such calls are made not through standard telephone networks but via internet technologies and specialized software. This allows malicious actors to conceal their real locations and mimic phone numbers from any country worldwide on the caller ID. Since the identifier is spoofed before the call reaches the mobile operator's network, tracking the true originator in existing systems is nearly impossible. These numbers are not registered in databases, as they are temporary digital masks rather than actual SIM cards.

SGB specialists highlighted several critical risks associated with interacting with such callers. Returning a call to such a number leads to immediate deduction of significant sums from the phone's balance. Additionally, fraudsters often pose as employees of various organizations, attempting to extract bank card codes. Even simply answering a call confirms the number's activity, adding it to a target list for subsequent mass hacker attacks. A particular danger lies in voice recording capabilities: criminals may later use artificial intelligence to create fake voice messages to deceive relatives on the victim's behalf.

To ensure cybersecurity, the SGB recommends citizens adhere to simple rules. Do not answer calls from unfamiliar and suspicious foreign numbers, and especially avoid calling them back. Such contacts should be blocked immediately. The agency reminds that under no circumstances should personal data or verification codes from SMS messages be disclosed to strangers.

Source: podrobno.uz