Beware! How to Identify Fake Chatbots
Scammers in Ukraine are creating counterfeit chatbots that mimic the operations of volunteer and government organizations. Their motives can vary: from stealing critical information to collecting your personal data.
Identifying and blocking such fakes is not an easy task. Cyberpolice are working on this, but while one fake page disappears, another one appears.
For instance, the chat bot 'ObserverBot', which is used to report military movements, has several clones, while 'TicketHelper' has numerous fakes. Some of these may not function at all, which can create issues when you urgently need access to services. All these bots operate without oversight, and at any moment, their creators may change tactics to deceive users.
How to identify a fake bot?
Here are some signs:
● They look very similar to the real ones but may have an extra letter in the name.
● They lack the blue verification badge or have a counterfeit one that might confuse users.
● They may communicate in Russian or have a menu in Russian.
● Bots might simply not work, which creates an impression of unreliability in government services.
To verify if the bot you are using is genuine, use the 'Botchecker' tool on Dovidka.info.
What is Botchecker and how can it help?
It is a database of verified Ukrainian chatbots, created by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications in collaboration with cyberpolice and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
“Over three years, 100,000 people have used Botchecker. We launched it in 2022 when many government agencies began creating chatbots in a chaotic environment. Scammers quickly started making fakes, so our Botchecker helps people identify these forgeries,” said Mykola Balaban, Deputy Head of the Center for Strategic Communications.
How to use Botchecker?
- Enter the name or link of the chatbot in the search field.
- Get information about its authenticity and developer.
- If the bot is not in the database, report it to the cyberpolice via the @stopdrugsbot (BRAMA on Telegram).
Be cautious! Don't give the enemy a chance to deceive you!
