Scammers are posing as Ministry of Internal Affairs services: how to avoid losing money
This has been reported by the Main Service Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Main Service Centre warns that fraudsters are increasingly creating fake websites that appear similar to the official resources of service centres. To do this, they use the colours of the government agency, brand elements and content from official sources to lull users into a false sense of security.
One of the most common scams involves offers to “purchase” a driving licence in a matter of days, online, without attending a driving school or taking exams at a Ministry of Internal Affairs service centre. The Ministry emphasises that such services constitute fraud, and the aim of these websites is to obtain advance payment for something they cannot and are not authorised to provide.
In some cases, after transferring funds, a person may receive a forged document that does not appear in official databases. Such “licences” do not appear in the Driver’s Cabinet or the Diia app, are not recorded in state registers, and their use may result in criminal liability. To combat such schemes, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ service centres issue document forms with additional security features.
How fake websites work
Another scam involves fake websites where fraudsters offer to check the status of documents or book an appointment at an MIA service centre. These sites mimic official services, and when you enter your bank card details supposedly to pay a “fee”, this information falls into the hands of criminals. As a result, you risk losing your money.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Service Centre advises checking the website address first and foremost. Official resources of state institutions have the .gov.ua domain. Missing letters, transposed characters, .com, .net, .org and other domains, as well as typos and limited functionality, should raise red flags.
The agency also urges people not to trust dubious offers from strangers online. The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ service centres do not sell documents via messaging apps or third-party websites. The legal route, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Service Centre emphasises, remains the only safe way to obtain services.
Separately, users are advised not to enter personal or banking details on third-party websites. To obtain information, you should use the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Service Centre; to replace or renew a licence, use the Driver’s Cabinet or Diya; and to verify the authenticity of documents, use the official online service.
If a fraudulent website or a suspicious page or chat is discovered online, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Public Service Centre urges users not to make any payments, not to disclose personal data, and to report such incidents to the Cyber Police.
As a reminder, ThePublic has identified a new online money-making scam. In live streams on TikTok, unknown individuals offer to “check” whether a person is wanted in connection with mobilisation or the Special Military Operation in exchange for donations. The scheme is simple: they send a full name to the chat, then ask for a transfer to a Monobank card, after which the result appears on the screen.
