Yerevan
Tbilisi
Moscow
Paris
Los Angeles
Beijing
English
Հայերեն Русский
Main Timeline Video Share
May the Holiday Warm Hearts: Idram and IDBank Support the Children of Heroes Beneficiaries of the "By Your Side" program at IDBank AraratBank Named Large CSR Company of the Year Idram Joins the Fight Against Food Insecurity Ucom’s Renovated Sales and Service Center in Yerevan Mall Reopens 1% idcoin instead of New Year’s suffering: practical tips Idram Junior Donated Books to Schools Big Christmas Market with Idram, IDBank and idplus Ucom Supports Wildlife Monitoring in Ararat Region IDBank, Idram, and idplus at the Big Christmas Market Converse Bank Deputy CEO and CFO, Grant Akopian, Elected to BACEE Board Ucom and SunChild NGO Install a Solar Plant in Alaverdi Kindergarten
Timeline
“We are switching you to 5G, type a command”: IDBank warns about a fraud disguised as a “network update”Ucom and staff.am Bring Together Armenia’s Business Leaders at Executive Offsite Vol.1 Ameriabank and ADB Signed a $100 Million Agreement to Expand Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprise and Green Finance in ArmeniaLove Is… card from Unibank can win a trip to Paris Learn by Playing. A Series of Financial Literacy Games with Idram, IDBank and “Novosti-Armenia”Ucom and the Microsoft Innovation Center Collaborate on Cybersecurity EducationUnisport – Armenian Futsal Cup holderSummer starts with iced coffee, what if it brings bonuses too? Idram&IDBank AraratBank reduces loan interest rates for around 400 reliable SME customersTeam Holding Announces the Launch of the Third and Final Placement Phase of USD Bonds. Underwriter - Freedom Broker Armenia Unibank Launches Biometric Identification in UNIMobile App Unisport reaches the finals of the Futsal Armenian Cup and Premier League IDBank was the strategic partner of the “Women in Leadership Forum & Awards 2026”Unibank Launches Fee-Free Online Payroll Card IssuanceUcom Supported the First-ever Western Asia Regional FPV Drone Race in Armenia Protect Yourself from Fraud: Safety Tips from AraratBankUnibank Offers 50% Discount on Cards During WeekendsPlanning your trip from a scratch: tips from IDBankIDBank supports the Opening Event of Wizz Air’s “Let’s Get Lost” CampaignUnibank provided cashback to more than 2 000 reliable SME borrowers
All Timeline »
Society

“We are switching you to 5G, type a command”: IDBank warns about a fraud disguised as a “network update”

Amid the active expansion of fifth-generation mobile networks in Armenia, a rise in fraud activity has been recorded. Scammers, posing as employees of telecommunications companies, offer to “upgrade settings” or “activate 5G” using phone commands.

Mechanics of deception: interception of control over communication

The scheme is based on the manipulating USSD commands - short service codes (for example, *123#). Under the pretext of “switching to a new network standard” scammers convince victims to enter a combination of numbers, that actually activates unconditional call and SMS forwarding to the scammer’s phone number. In some cases, users are urged to install a third-party app supposedly required for 5G operation, which is in fact spyware. 

As a result, scammers gain access to one-time passwords to banking apps and digital wallets. Since, the notifications are redirected to the scammer’s phone, victims do not see alerts about unauthorized withdrawals or loans being taking out, giving scammers time to transfer the funds. Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and mobile operators regularly issue warnings to the public. They emphasize that the transition to 5G in Armenia happens automatically, if a smartphone, SIM card, and mobile plan support the new technology, no additional manual settings or phone instructions are required. 

Legal trap

The deceptive nature of the scheme lies in the fact that device owners themselves enter the USSD commands or install the applications. Legally, this makes the process of disputing transactions extremely difficult, since from the bank’s security systems’ point of view, access was granted by the client himself.

IDBank advises:

Technological progress does not require you to perform complex manual actions under pressure. To protect your finances, follow these rules:

  • 5G does not require any manual configuration on your phone. The transition to higher data transfer speeds happens automatically and does not require entering special commands or downloading additional applications. If your device has not switched to the new standard, contact your mobile operator.
  • Ignore USSD instructions. Never enter codes dictated by unknown individuals, regardless of who they claim to represent.
  • Do not download apps via links. All official mobile operators’ applications are available only on Google Play and App Store. Any files sent in messengers are a direct treat.
  • Check the information personally. If you received a call about “network settings”, hang up and call the support service of your operator on the official number.
  • Follow the signal. If your phone suddenly stopped receiving incoming calls and SMS, immediately contact the communication operator and the bank from another device - possibly, there is already an active forwarding on your number.

Remember: 5G is not going anywhere. But access to the phone and money can be lost in one minute. Financial security begins with the simple habit of checking and not rushing.

THE BANK IS SUPERVISED BY THE CBA