From Free Game Cheats to Arson: Cybercriminals Recruit Children for Espionage and Violent Crimes
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting children not only to steal money from parents but also to turn them into unwitting accomplices in dangerous criminal activities. During school holidays, teenagers spend more time in games and messengers where scammers offer free in-game currency, mods, cheats, and pirated game versions to build trust. Once access is gained, fraudsters extract SMS codes, bank card details, or device control, escalating to threats and blackmail when initial tactics fail. Kaspersky Lab recorded over 19 million attempts to distribute malware disguised as popular games between April 2024 and April 2025, installing spyware and RAT trojans that monitor chats, keystrokes, cameras, and microphones. In severe cases, children are manipulated into believing they assist law enforcement, leading to real-world crimes such as photographing apartments, handing over keys, setting fires, or attacking people. Specific incidents include a 12-year-old boy from Leningrad Oblast forced to assault a police officer and a 13-year-old from Podolsk ordered to ignite a gas pump at a filling station. Izvestia reporting highlights that parents should watch for signs like hidden screens or strange tasks and teach children that no stranger can demand codes, money, or secret missions.
AntiMalwareJul 22, 2026Translated from Russian