SIS announces that citizens’ personal data collected by Russian special services for use in fraud operations

The Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) announces that the personal data of citizens of the Republic of Moldova are being massively collected by the special services of the Russian Federation in order to be used in fraud operations. The institution has obtained information in this regard.

According to SIS, the data are collected through various methods, such as: private databases illegally sold on the Dark Web, databases illegally extracted by hacking private servers, as well as the database collected by the Șor organized criminal group in recent years, which contains around 145,000 citizens who provided their personal data.


“The assessment of the information held indicates detailed databases containing first and last names, email addresses, telephone numbers, home addresses, as well as copies of identity documents. The collected information is subsequently transmitted to organized criminal groups with cross-border reach, to be used in fraud schemes and in the theft of funds from citizens’ bank cards, as well as in cash,” the institution announced.


In this context, SIS warns that “these actions are not isolated incidents, but are part of the hybrid war aimed at undermining national stability,” and that the goal of these orchestrated attacks is “to create a sense of insecurity and distrust in society.”


“We urge the citizens of the Republic of Moldova not to provide their personal data to unknown persons or to alleged companies offering quick-profit investment opportunities, not to provide passwords or other security data by phone, and to double-check any action through which codes or money are requested. We recommend that citizens immediately report such suspicious situations to the nearest police unit or by calling the 112 Service,” SIS emphasized.


State institutions and financial‑banking institutions have been informed and will take precautionary measures.