Security News > 2023 > March > Pro-Putin scammers trick politicians and celebrities into low-tech hoax video calls
Pro-Russian scammers using social engineering and impersonation to trick prominent western commentators into conducting recorded video calls have kicked these campaigns "Into high gear" over the past 12 months, according to security researchers.
Once their targets bite the email lure, and agree to follow-up hoax video calls, TA499 kicks things off with a serious question or two.
The hoaxes have become more political in nature since the war started, Proofpoint researchers said, in an email to The Register.
"Since late-January 2022, the threat actor has largely focused its email attempts on scheduling a video or phone call meeting with high-profile North American or European government officials and CEOs of prominent companies," according to the research.
In addition to the Proofpoint-discovered email campaigns, Cass calls out a similar attempt using a phony email address allegedly controlled by Shmyhal to contact British politician Robert Ben Lobban Wallace.
As the war sparked by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine moves into its second year, Proofpoint cautions C-suite execs and politicians to be on alert for high-profile "Ukrainian" sources who reach out "Suddenly via email" with no prior introduction.