Virgin Media O2 blocked 168 million suspected fraudulent text messages over the past two years following reports by its customers to 7726, the scam text reporting service. Forwarding the details of a scam text to this number reports the scam to your mobile network and allows them to investigate and block fraudsters.
Fake TikTok job offers, discounts at popular brands, messages about missed parcel deliveries and texts about prize winnings were among the most common reports to Virgin Media O2.
Messages like these almost always include a phishing link that leads to dodgy sites created to convince you to part with your personal and financial data. But scammers are getting better at disguising their intentions.
Read on to find out the sneakiest scam texts Which? has come across recently and how to spot and report a scam text message.
1. Fake crises
An out of the blue message addresses you by name and tells you that the sender is in an ‘urgent situation’, the ultimate goal is to get you to transfer money to the scammer.
In an example seen by Which?, the scammer claims their mother is in hospital and they need money for their sisters to travel back to help her.
This text is designed to induce panic and make you act quickly. Of course, none of this is real, but it can catch you off guard if you think a friend is in need.
The only thing that gave this message away was that the recipient couldn't place the name of the sender and so concluded it was a scam.
2. Mobile network impersonation
A text that tells you EE has ‘failed to take payment for your recent bill’ includes a dodgy link to ‘change your account information.’
This link in the message sends recipients to a website impersonating EE, which asks for your account information in order to bill you.
Another similar text claims to be from phone carrier Vodafone and tells you that your contract will be 'disabled' as you haven’t accepted the new terms and conditions. You’re then prompted to follow a dodgy link to accept these.
3. ‘Hi mum’ text
We’ve seen these ‘hi mum’ texts, which impersonate adult children to try to panic you into transferring money for fake emergencies for years. Sadly, many are caught out by these messages.
Often, the text will tell you to contact the sender on a different number, which will belong to the scammer, so they can continue their story before asking you for cash.
4. Missed delivery Evri text
A scam text impersonating Evri tells you that your package can’t be delivered due to missing or incorrect information, and relies on the fact that many people who receive it will be waiting on a delivery.
It gives you a link to follow, which takes you to a copycat website, and instructs you to reply 'Y' to the message 'to activate the link'.
undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/four-new-sneaky-text-message-scams-to-watch-out-for-aGVa83r4iH2v