Technology | “Please indicate your number...”: why it’s better not to do this

Why did the number get disconnected? Here are the possible reasons

1. The number was linked before, but you untied it when you decided that you could make another page for the same number. Yes, you succeeded, but now the number is linked to the new page and untied from the old one.
2. You gave someone a secret code to link your number and thus allowed you to link your number to someone else’s page. More about this here:
   How did I get hacked? Why?
3. You haven't used the number to which the page was linked for a long time. The mobile operator sold it to another person, and he linked it to another page.

In any case, the number has become untied from the page to which it was originally linked. One number - one page! Therefore, VK asks you to enter the code from the picture. This is how protecting people from spam works. If this were not the case, then life would be too easy for spammers: they could send spam from pages not associated with any number. Nobody would like that.

Now you look like a spammer, and VK limits your actions. But what’s even worse is that you can lose access to the page at any time - if, for example, you forget your password. Read more about this unpleasant situation here:

• What to do if you created two pages for one VKontakte number

That’s why VK suggests linking the number to the page:

We ask all users to link their mobile phone number to the page. This will protect your page from threats and eliminate the need to constantly enter codes.

Microcredit based on passport photo

It all started with a classic story. Friends started writing to David, asking if they really needed money.

It turned out that his wife’s VKontakte had been hacked. My wife reset and changed her password on VKontakte, but here’s a surprise: when you log into your account, the page consistently crashes and logs out after 5-10 seconds.

The man suggested that the scammer connects some kind of bot to the page, which breaks all sessions except the fraudulent one.

To stop the mailing bacchanalia, we asked friends to report spam. After about 20 minutes the page was blocked, and we exhaled. In vain.

This did not end there - a second attempt to lure money began. From an unknown page, a man began writing to David’s friends with a story that he had found his wife’s passport.

To be convincing, he attached a passport photo to the messages, which, apparently, the fraudster found on his personal page. The fraudster also persistently began to find out the woman’s place of work in order to allegedly bring the document there.

After some time, this friend writes to me in a personal message, nervously asking where his wife works, giving several confusing explanations as to why he needs this. Of course, he receives no answer. Yeah, that means now he’s trying to apply for a microloan by sending a photo of his passport and indicating his wife’s personal information. Here we tensed up. The likelihood that something will be approved without proof of identity is, of course, minimal, but you really can’t count on the integrity of these offices.

To be on the safe side, the couple consulted the police and filed a report of attempted fraud. Such actions are necessary if the loan does surface and you need a basis to challenge it in court. In addition, for safety, David sent out a dozen letters to loan offices, warning about the situation. But this story did not end there either. The scammer still managed to get the money.

What is said about this in the VK help system

— Why do you always have to enter codes from pictures?

— The VKontakte website has a very strict anti-spam system. If you don't like constantly entering codes, then please link your page to a phone number. This can be done in the "Settings" section.

Sometimes you have to enter a code if you perform the same type of actions or post comments in very large and active communities. You cannot disable it in such situations; these are necessary security measures.

Methods for checking a VKontakte page for fraud

To recognize a scammer, you need to take a few simple steps:

1. Visit the object's page and view information about it. The lack of friends on the page or posts should already be alarming.
2. If any services are offered, it is worth finding out if this person has a website that confirms the activity.
3. It is worth conducting an analysis of the contacts and groups in which the suspect is a member.
4. Checking page ID and address. To do this, just copy the address bar when you are on the user’s page.
5. If you are offered to purchase goods, then it is worth finding out how long this resource has been operating. You often come across fly-by-night online stores. Do not rush to transfer money for goods, do not indicate your card number or PIN code and mobile phone number.
6. Read people's reviews. Their absence already indicates, at a minimum, that the product is not in demand.

Never transfer SMS and code from your payment systems to third parties. This applies not only to bank cards, but also to QIWI and other online wallets.

List of scammers on VKontakte

There are many groups on VKontakte that contain lists and names of accounts that have been found to deceive users. If you suspect that a new contact is a scammer, you can check him using these groups. Information can be found on this page: https://vk.com/scamlist.

Why does VK allow you to create a second page, but does not allow you to link a number to two pages?

First of all, VK rules prohibit you from using two pages:

5.5. […] The user has the right to register no more than one personal page on the Site.

Sometimes there are still situations when a person cannot continue to use the old page for some reason, and he should have the opportunity to create a new one.

And most importantly, mobile operators resell numbers to other people after these numbers have not been used for some time. After all, the number of rooms is not endless. Now imagine that your page is linked to a number that you haven’t used for a long time. A new SIM card with this number is sold to another person. He creates his own page. What, let the number be linked to both your page and someone else’s?

Yes, of course, the new owner of the number would not be able to restore access to your page - after all, to do this you need to enter the last name indicated on the page. He doesn't know her. But what if he finds out? Maybe the number appeared somewhere on the Internet in connection with your last name. Then a stranger could take over your page. Who would you blame? VC? VC doesn't need such problems. Therefore, of course, the number is unlinked from the previous page when it is linked to a new one.

"Sit down if you're standing..."

During all the fuss, one acquaintance quickly called. He asked if everything was ok with us, and after a few confused words he hung up. After a while he writes to me. He says he got caught and transferred the money. Sit down, if you are standing, now I will write how much... Twenty-four thousand!!! How is this in general? And I thought of calling only after what happened, I realized that I had missed it, and wrote to me. I fell for the classic legend about the expiring loan term. And after everything was revealed, he continued to communicate with this scammer.

The attacker convinced him to send another 6 thousand, but the man no longer fell for this “scam”.

The scammer convinced him that he did not expect that someone would send so much money, he said, send another 6 thousand, since the minimum withdrawal amount from his wallet is 30 thousand, and I will return the money to you. Strongly? Our friend, thank God, did not fall for this trick. And thanks for that.

During their conversation, the fraudster spoke about his craft. He complained that he had to invest a lot in electronic cards and his life was hard.

What to do if you were scammed for money on VKontakte?

If a complaint to the administration did not help or the person’s account was simply blocked, but the funds were not returned to the user, it is worth taking more severe measures.

Where to complain

A complaint against a VKontakte group or user is filed with Roskomnadzor. To do this, you need to go to the Roskomnadzor website (https://rkn.gov.ru/treatments/ask-question/), select the desired category in the top menu, and then click on the “Generate an appeal” button.

If a person knows the user’s real name, place of residence or identification document details, then you can:

• write a statement to the police directly by visiting a law enforcement agency or submit it electronically on the website https://Ministry of Internal Affairs.rf/request_main;
• file a complaint with the prosecutor's office.

Rules for binding and untying

The administration of the social network allows you to use only your own phone numbers. The following rules will also help you avoid problems with registering and using the network:

1. Only one valid mobile phone number can be linked to one page. This approach will reduce the likelihood of the page being used for personal gain, as well as spam. In such cases, users will have to purchase new phone numbers.
2. If the account was registered to an email address several years ago (before 2013), it is allowed to register an already used number. However, it will be unlinked from the first page.
3. If access to the old number is lost or it is blocked, the profile owner can unlink without any hindrance.
4. The unbinding time depends on the number itself. If it is not available to the user, the procedure may take two weeks. If access is available, the operation is completed in one day.

Additionally, there are some workarounds that allow you to use what is called a "temporary" number. Services are provided by specialized services that generate telephone combinations for short-term use. By registering such a number, the user has the opportunity to receive SMS to replace the old phone with a new one.

Unbinding methods

The choice of re-registration method must be carried out according to the situation. It is also necessary to take into account the possible loss of the number to which the page was linked.

Replacement with a new one

The easiest way to unlink is to replace the number with a new one. The duration of the transaction will depend on the availability of access to it. For the procedure you need:

1. Log in to the page as usual.
2. Go to the settings section, open the “General” and “Number” items.
3. Click on the “Change” button.
4. In the form that opens, dial a new phone number that you want to link for further use.
5. Activate the code sent via SMS. Such codes will be sent to both numbers.

The administration of the social network will reduce the replacement period if the user has access to the old number. In this case it will be one day. In other situations, to ensure safety, the procedure can be extended up to two weeks.

Replacement by e-mail

If you have free email, you can unlink. To do this you need:

1. Log in to the system using your details.
2. Go to the notification settings section.
3. Open the e-mail information item, fill in the line with the new address.
4. Save changes.
5. Receive a message to the specified address with a confirmation link. Activate it.
6. Open the link https://vk.com/deact.php and indicate the unbinding number in it. Receive the code via SMS and enter it in the field provided.

Errors may occur during the procedure. To fix them, it is recommended to refresh the page.

After the operation is completed, the number will be inactive for authorization. To log in, you will need to enter your registered email address.