Scammers are inventive: there have already been documented cases where they themselves ask victims to install MAX. Supposedly for “secure communication” or “data verification.” That’s exactly why a call in MAX from an unknown number raises particular concern. Let me break down what actually happens when you pick up, and what the consequences might be.

To answer, or better not?

Who Might Be Calling in MAX from an Unknown Number

Let’s start with who might actually be on the other end of an incoming call in MAX. The app doesn’t require mutual contact addition to make a call. Anyone who knows your phone number can call you in MAX without warning.

Who calls in MAX from unknown numbers:

  • spammers and advertisers: automated robocalls have migrated from regular telephony to messengers;
  • scammers: more on them in the following sections;
  • debt collectors: they actively use all available communication channels;
  • real people who dialed the wrong number;
  • those who found your number in public sources or data breach leaks.

An important nuance: calls through MAX have become an attractive tool specifically for scammers because a messenger call is harder to trace than a regular phone call, and it’s perceived as a more “personal” contact.

What Happens When You Answer a Call in MAX

Be careful when answering a call

When you answer a call in MAX chat from a stranger, the other person gains access to:

  • your avatar and name in your MAX profile: everything you’ve publicly listed;
  • your online status: they can see that you’re active right now;
  • your voice: and this is more important than it seems at first glance.

The caller already knows your phone number (otherwise they couldn’t have called). What’s new that they get when you answer is your voice and confirmation that the number is active and belongs to a real person. A separate topic is Digital ID. If you created one, you’ve essentially handed all your data to the messenger.

Answering a call doesn't hack your phone, but it gives the scammer your voice and confirmation that the number is active.

There’s good news too: answering a call by itself doesn’t transmit any technical device data, doesn’t grant access to files, and doesn’t install anything on your phone. MAX security in this regard is set up properly: the vulnerability isn’t technical, it’s social.

Why a Scammer’s Call in MAX Is Dangerous

Through MAX they can even steal your apartment

Scammers in MAX use calls for several schemes, and all of them are built not on technical vulnerabilities but on psychological pressure:

  • Vishing — voice phishing. The caller poses as a bank employee, government agency representative, or security service. They create a sense of urgency: “your account has been blocked,” “money is being withdrawn from your card,” “your data has been compromised.” The goal is to throw the person off balance and force them to act quickly without thinking.
  • The “relative in trouble” scheme. The caller claims that your loved one has been in an accident or detained by police, and money is urgently needed. Scams in MAX using this scheme are especially dangerous because a voice call is perceived as more credible than a text message.
  • Voice recording for deepfakes. This is a new and particularly alarming scheme. Scammers in MAX may call solely to record your voice (a few seconds of speech are enough to create a voice deepfake). Then this voice is used to call your relatives.

Safety rules for any call from a stranger:

  • never share SMS codes: not banking ones, not from government services, not from MAX itself;
  • don’t reveal card details: number, CVV, expiration date;
  • don’t confirm personal information in response to the caller’s questions: date of birth, address, passport details;
  • don’t install apps at the caller’s request, even if they claim to be a bank employee or MAX support;
  • at the slightest doubt, hang up and call back the organization’s official number yourself.

What Happens If You Answer a Call in MAX

If you answered an incoming call in MAX from an unknown number, technically nothing automatically bad happened. Your phone isn’t hacked, your data isn’t stolen, no virus is installed.

Nothing terrible, but you should stay alert

What actually happens when you answer:

  • the caller sees your profile and hears your voice;
  • they get confirmation that the number is active and you answer on it;
  • if you said something, your voice is recorded on their device;
  • what happens next depends entirely on what occurs during the conversation.

The real danger arises not at the moment of answering, but during the conversation, if you start sharing information, fulfilling the caller’s requests, or giving in to pressure. So the rule is simple: you can answer, but at the slightest suspicion — hang up immediately. There’s no need to continue a conversation with a suspicious stranger.

How to Protect Yourself from Unwanted Calls in MAX

Protection from scammers in MAX starts with proper privacy settings. There are several actions you should take first.