Online frauds have become a serious problem for Armenian citizens in recent years. Fraudsters try to get people's bank data or directly extort money through social networks, fake websites, SMS, calls and even famous people's names. In January 2026, the head of the Cybercrime Department of the Criminal Police of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs also spoke about the spread of financial frauds, fake investments and frauds carried out using the names and faces of famous people. Here are the main schemes that you should be especially wary of.
Fake investments and "get-rich-quick" offers Ads may appear on Facebook, Telegram, and other platforms that promise large returns for a small investment. The police have repeatedly warned about such offers. they also contact citizens through call centers and convince them to invest in cryptocurrency or other fields. If they promise very high profits with almost no risk, you should first check the license and registration of the company.
Fake links on behalf of a bank or a well-known organization Fraudsters can create a page that looks like a real website and send a link offering to receive a gift, participate in a promotion or verify an account. The card data entered on such a page may end up in the hands of fraudsters. In the past, the police have recorded cases of embezzlement carried out by this very mechanism. Fake contests and gifts Fake pages with the names of famous people or organizations can appear on social networks. The user is informed that he has "won", and in order to receive the prize, they require card details or money, allegedly for delivery. Fake job offers In Armenia, messages offering to work from home and earn thousands of drams a day have also been spread. The police also warned about such cases, noting that providing personal data can lead to financial losses. Scam "We will return your money" A particularly dangerous scheme is the case when a person has already lost money, and then he is offered to return this money.
The police warned about such false statements, through which fraudsters again try to get personal data or money. The danger of becoming a "repository broker" The Central Bank also warned in August 2026 about schemes where citizens are offered to use their bank or crypto-asset accounts, cards or electronic wallets to transfer money to other people. In such transactions, a person may unwittingly become involved in the circulation of criminally obtained funds. How to protect yourself The Central Bank advises to beware of unexpected calls, SMS and e-mails, especially when they try to force you to make a quick decision. Do not transfer confidential bank card data or passwords and download any program from an unknown source that requires access to the device. In the case of a company offering a financial service, it is necessary to check whether it is licensed or registered by the Central Bank.
The check should be done in the official registry of the Central Bank, not with the link sent to you by a stranger. If you have already transferred data or lost money, you should contact the bank as soon as possible and contact law enforcement. The hotline 011 52 52 52 is indicated on the website of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs Police for Internet fraud. It is important to remember that the bank, the police or any serious financial organization should not ask you for a password, full confidential card data or a confirmation code received by SMS through an unexpected call or message.
