0 800 501 200
The National Bank of Ukraine, together with the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine and the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, is launching the next wave of the All-Ukrainian Payment Security Information Campaign - #ShahraiGudbay - on 13 May 2025.
Its goal is to raise awareness among citizens and remind them of the basic safety rules for cashless payments, especially on the Internet.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, there has been an increase in cyber fraud and cybercrime. The amount of losses from illegal actions and fraudulent transactions using payment cards is growing. Thus, in 2024, compared to 2023, this figure increased by more than a third (37%) to a total of UAH 1.1 billion.
Social engineering traditionally remains the most common cause of payment card fraud in Ukraine, as well as globally. That is, when customers independently disclose personal data, payment card details, login and password to mobile and Internet banking, confirmation codes and passwords for payment transactions or to log in to a payment application.
Therefore, improving citizens' knowledge and skills in the safe use of payment cards and internet banking will enable them to use cashless payments more prudently and protect themselves from fraudulent schemes and traps in the virtual space.
‘Financial payment institutions are constantly strengthening security measures to protect customers' funds, so fraudsters are increasingly focusing on social engineering and are increasingly luring sensitive data from users. This is evidenced by data obtained from payment service providers: 84% of all losses were caused by social engineering. Such incidents could have been avoided if Ukrainians were better aware of the rules of safe use of payment cards and internet banking. To remind citizens and provide more information about possible fraudulent schemes and ways to counteract cyber fraud, we are launching a new wave of the #ChoaxGoodbye information campaign,’ commented Oleksiy Shaban, Deputy Governor of the NBU.
‘Every fraud begins with trust - this is what scammers play on, forcing you to speak, click, install. Their main weapon is not sophisticated technology, but frivolity, emotions, and lack of knowledge about safe behaviour in the digital environment. That is why our goal is not only to detect criminals but also to prevent offences. The #ShahraiGudbay campaign is a joint initiative of the NBU, the cyber police, and the State Service for Special Communications, which will help every Ukrainian learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones from financial traps. And even a few simple steps can protect your data and funds,’ said Yuriy Vykhodets, Head of the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine.
‘There is a well-known phrase that it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it. We can say the same about cyberspace: it is better to learn and follow the rules of safe behaviour in online space in advance than to suffer from the actions of cybercriminals, lose important personal data or funds due to carelessness or ignorance. The #ShahraiGudbay information campaign is an important educational event that I am sure will help many Ukrainians to improve their cyber hygiene skills and raise awareness of payment security,’ said Oleksandr Potii, Head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.
During the campaign, the NBU and more than 80 partners will focus their efforts on explaining the main elements of payment security to financial services consumers, including the following issues
- how to check websites and chatbots where users enter their payment details;
- how to shop safely online;
- how to protect your financial phone number;
- how to avoid the most common fraud schemes;
- how not to accidentally become an accomplice to a crime and not to fall into the trap of fraudsters when looking for a job;
- how to protect your accounts;
- how to create complex and unique passwords;
- how to set up multi-factor authentication.
The information campaign will run until the end of the year in all regions of Ukraine. As part of the campaign, the NBU and its partners will inform citizens on how to protect themselves from payment fraud, including
- posters on billboards, city lights, public transport, and public transport stops;
- placement of videos on monitors in ASCs, shopping malls, petrol stations, retail outlets, bank branches, mobile operator stores, subways, railway stations, Intercity trains, service centres of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, and employment centres;
- posting posters and brochures in the premises of employment centres, free legal aid centres, and police stations;
- posting publications in social networks, media, telegram channels, partner websites;
participation in thematic radio broadcasts and TV stories;
- publishing a social newspaper for the elderly on payment security and distributing it in the service centres of the Pension Fund of Ukraine;
- holding contests, webinars and other educational events for pupils, students and teachers;
- sending SMS and e-mails;
- placement of a social video/audio clip on television/radio.
All useful information will also be collected on a special webpage of the #CheatGoodbye campaign.
