Zscaler Blog

Get the latest Zscaler blog updates in your inbox

Security Research

"Check Who Is Visiting Your Profile" Scam On Russian Social Network Vkontakte

image
JULIEN SOBRIER
March 07, 2012 - 2 min read
ImageVkontakte is the Russian equivalent of Facebook and has been criticized for being a direct "clone". Well, scammers are "cloning" the most popular Facebook scams and porting them to this Russian platform as well.

One recurring scam, used to trick people into giving up credentials to their Facebook account, or executing a cross-site scripting attack against themselves, has it's equivalent at Vkontakte: hxxp://gosti-vk.p7h.in/?r=3262.

Here is a screenshot of the page translated into English:
 
Image
Scam site
The site claims to be an official Vkontakte application (with a .in TLD!). The page uses the same logo, layout and colors as the official site. The fake user testimonials explain that they have found likely lovers checking out your profile.

You need to give your ID or profile link (no password required) to let the "app" figure out who is viewing your profile:
 
Image
Form (translated in English) to enter user ID
I inserted a fake name (in English) and the app miraculously found 7 people who had looked at my profile!
 
Image
Name of people who visited by non-existent profile
Before I had time to click on any links, I was also asked to enter my cell phone number to ensure that I was indeed a human:
 
Image
Phone number must be entered

This is where the Russian scam differs from the Facebook scam. In the US, scammers try to get users to fill out surveys, install spyware or try "free" offers. In Russia, as shown in other scams, scammers make money by sending SMS messages with a surcharge.
form submtited
Thank you for reading

Was this post useful?

Disclaimer: This blog post has been created by Zscaler for informational purposes only and is provided "as is" without any guarantees of accuracy, completeness or reliability. Zscaler assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any actions taken based on the information provided. Any third-party websites or resources linked in this blog post are provided for convenience only, and Zscaler is not responsible for their content or practices. All content is subject to change without notice. By accessing this blog, you agree to these terms and acknowledge your sole responsibility to verify and use the information as appropriate for your needs.

Get the latest Zscaler blog updates in your inbox

By submitting the form, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.