The messaging application Max, supported by the Kremlin, is experiencing a spike in account rental scams, where fraudsters entice users to relinquish access to their accounts in exchange for cash, as reported by the business publication Kommersant on Friday.
Introduced in March by tech company VK as a domestic alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram, Max has been advertised by officials as a safe platform for educational institutions and governmental organizations. It is now required to be pre-installed on all smartphones and computers sold within Russia.
Kommersant revealed that approximately 1,000 advertisements appear daily on darknet forums and Telegram channels, offering users anywhere from $10 to $250 for temporary access to their Max accounts. Scammers are leveraging legitimate accounts to evade spam filters, deceiving victims into sending money or disclosing sensitive financial information.
Authorities predict that 9% of fraudulent calls made in Russia now utilize Max, a number that analysts informed Kommersant could more than double by the close of 2025.
The developers of the app have asserted that account rental remains a relatively isolated issue, noting that they blocked 67,000 suspicious accounts in August. Additionally, Max has joined forces with Sberbank and Kaspersky Lab to enhance its security measures.
Recent legislation that came into effect on September 1 criminalizes the swapping of messenger, social media, and gaming accounts, as well as SIM cards, with offenders facing up to two years in prison for fraud-related offenses.
The Interior Ministry has cautioned that account rentals are among the initial tactics exploited by scam call centers operating on Max.
