Fraudsters in Ukraine are creating counterfeit versions of chatbots from governmental and volunteer organizations. Sometimes their aim is to steal critical information, while other times it’s simply to gather your personal details or money.
Detecting and blocking these fake pages is quite challenging. Cyber police are actively working on this, but new clones appear faster than they can be shut down.
For instance, the chatbot “DefenseChat” that allows users to report military troop movements has several imitations. Similarly, the “BuyTickets” bot has multiple counterparts. Some of these clones do not function but can mislead users in urgent situations when tickets are needed. All these bots are uncontrolled, and their creators can alter payment mechanisms at any moment to steal your funds.
How to identify a fake bot?
Signs of counterfeit bots:
- They look similar to real ones but have an extra character in the name or link.
- They lack the blue verification badge or have a counterfeit one, often using an emoji.
- They may respond in Russian or have menus in that language.
- Sometimes they may not work, leading to the impression that governmental services are unreliable.
To check if the bot you’re using is genuine, use the “BotChecker” tool on the Dovidka.info website.
What is BotChecker and how can it help?
It is a database of verified Ukrainian chatbots. Developed by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications in cooperation with cyber police and other agencies.
“Over the three years of BotChecker's existence, more than 100,000 people have used it. It was created in 2022, when various government bodies began actively developing chatbots amidst instability. Fraudsters quickly caught on and started creating fakes. Our BotChecker is a simple tool that helps people identify these fakes and protect themselves. It's essential to spread this information so everyone is aware of the risks,” says Mykola Balaban, Deputy Head of the Center for Strategic Communications.
How to use BotChecker?
- Enter the name or link of the chatbot in the search field.
- Receive information about its authenticity and developer.
- If the bot is not found, report it to cyber police via the @stopdrugsbot (BRAMA in Telegram).
Stay alert! Don’t give the enemy a chance to deceive you and gain access to your data or money!