Authorities and security researchers across three continents have issued a flurry of warnings about a new generation of digital fraud that turns everyday phone features into tools for theft. The schemes, reported in Bangladesh, Russia, Nigeria, and the United States, target users through video-calling apps, file-sharing protocols, and fake banking software, often without requiring a victim to click a malicious link.

In South Asia, Bangladeshi media report that Apple has cautioned iPhone users about criminals posing as bank officials or tech support on FaceTime. The fraudsters initiate video calls, display convincing credentials, and persuade targets to share one-time passwords or screen recordings, draining accounts within minutes. Separately, security researchers in Germany examined Apple AirDrop and Android Quick Share, finding six vulnerabilities that could allow a nearby attacker to crash services or, in one case, potentially execute code on a Windows machine. The flaws, acknowledged by Apple, Samsung, and Google, affect over five billion devices, though no active exploitation has been confirmed.

Russian lawmakers and the central bank have detailed parallel campaigns. One scheme, described by a State Duma committee member, involves fake meter-inspection notices demanding inflated fees under threat of fines. Another, flagged by the Bank of Russia, sees fraudsters impersonating financial intelligence officers, claiming a victim’s data has been leaked and must be “secured” by withdrawing cash and depositing it into a so-called Central Bank account via a different ATM. The regulator stressed that no such safe accounts exist. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Wema Bank alerted customers to malicious apps disguised as sports betting or utility tools that, once installed, can intercept SMS messages and initiate unauthorised transactions without a device change.

Viewed from London, the common thread is a shift toward exploiting pre-installed trust. Fraudsters no longer rely solely on phishing links; they weaponise the very interfaces users consider safe—official app stores, built-in video calling, and proximity sharing. Russian digital-quality experts noted that many users keep outdated banking apps on their phones, unaware that missing security patches create individual vulnerabilities that malware can silently exploit. The advice from all jurisdictions converges: download apps only from official stores, reject unsolicited video calls, and never share screen content or security codes.

No central tally of losses exists, and investigations remain active in each country. The Bank of Russia reiterated that its employees never ask citizens to move money. Apple, according to Bangladeshi reports, urged users to report suspicious FaceTime invitations. The German research team has shared its findings with the affected manufacturers, who are working on patches. For now, the warnings stand as a provisional alert, with no confirmed arrests or recoveries announced.