Fraudsters impersonate Ukraine's security chief Rustem Umerov in phone scam warning.

Fake phone calls using Rustem Umerov's identity reported

According to TSN.ua: Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council and head of the Ukrainian negotiating team for a peaceful resolution to the war, has issued a warning about fraudulent phone calls being made in his name. Unidentified individuals are contacting international partners while pretending to be Umerov, attempting to extract sensitive information.

Umerov urged everyone to verify the sources of any communication they receive, stressing the critical need for maintaining good information hygiene. He also asked citizens to contact the National Security and Defense Council's office directly to confirm the legitimacy of any messages they receive.

Peace talks highlight the need for information security

This warning comes shortly after negotiations held on March 21–22 in Florida between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives. The talks focused on reaching a peace agreement to end Russia's war, with Rustem Umerov leading the Ukrainian delegation.

“These messages have nothing to do with me or any official activities. I urge everyone to practice information hygiene and verify communication sources,” - Rustem Umerov.

Umerov's alert about scammers using his name underscores the importance of information security, especially during active peace negotiations. In an environment where trust in information is crucial, maintaining strict information hygiene is essential for ensuring effective communication between government bodies and international partners. This situation also serves as a reminder of the risks posed by disinformation, which can disrupt key diplomatic processes.