The Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has issued a warning about a surge in phone scams where fraudsters impersonate its employees. These scammers are contacting citizens, claiming that their accounts on the government services portal 'Gosuslugi' have been hacked. Reports indicate that the fraudsters are particularly targeting pensioners, deceiving them with false claims related to recalculating work experience and threatening legal consequences for aiding Ukraine. In response to the escalating issue, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a crackdown on such scams, mandating that Russian banks and telecom operators reimburse stolen funds if they fail to prevent fraud. Additionally, Putin has proposed tighter regulations on the issuance and validity of payment cards. The General Prosecutor's Office has also submitted proposals to the Security Council regarding limits on bank card issuance and the regulation of real estate agents. As part of their evolving tactics, scammers have begun to assure victims that they do not need to disclose any SMS codes, creating a false sense of security to gain trust.