Fake teachers are calling schoolchildren in Kazakhstan and, under the pretext of reissuing electronic diaries, are tricking them into handing over SMS codes that give access to online banking and government services, the Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights has reported.
According to Informburo.kz, children, believing they are helping their school or parents, are effectively giving scammers access to their relatives' bank accounts.
The committee reminded that SMS codes are personal information, which should only be shared with parents.
Parents are advised to talk to their children and explain the following precautions:
- do not share codes from SMS messages, even if the caller claims to be a teacher or school employee;
- if in doubt, immediately call parents to verify the information;
- do not click on suspicious links or download unfamiliar apps.
Additionally, the committee recommends setting up parental controls on phones and monitoring calls from unknown numbers.