As of: January 27, 2024, 6:43 a.m
By: Kai Hartwig
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The consumer advice center warns of attempted fraud via SMS.
It's about packages that were supposedly sent - some with deceptively real, personal content.
Munich – Criminals repeatedly try to use fraudulent means to rob consumers of their money.
Emails, SMS or WhatsApp messages are also used.
The scams are becoming more and more perfidious, and artificial intelligence (AI) is sometimes being used.
Now the consumer advice center is warning of another rip-off attempt with SMS that supposedly comes from a parcel service: the so-called “smishing”.
Be careful with parcel service SMS with a link: criminals use the “smishing” scam to rip off people
The scam always revolves around an alleged package delivery.
Smartphone owners suddenly receive an SMS.
According to consumer advice centers, the message always contains a link “to strange websites”.
According to fraudulent SMS, the link helps track the shipment.
In addition, some of the “smishing” messages attempt to create time pressure: the recipients are led to believe that this is the “last opportunity to pick up the package”.
But anyone who clicks on the link falls into the trap: either malicious apps are distributed, or malware reads data and sends masses of SMS to the cell phone's stored contacts.
Subscription traps also lurk behind these SMS links.
The Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office warned of similar fraud attempts in 2021.
“Smishing” scam: False parcel delivery SMS messages try to trick smartphone owners into clicking on a dangerous link.
© Consumer Center NRW
Personal salutation in fraudulent parcel service SMS – criminals get information by stealing data
Consumers will ask themselves: Why does a corresponding SMS end up on my smartphone?
Where did the scammers get my number?
According to the consumer advice center, the possible reasons are hacked databases or dubious address trading.
The latter obtains the data, for example, from participants in false competitions that are spread either on social media such as Facebook and Instagram or via SMS and messenger services such as WhatsApp.
However, you shouldn't be fooled by a personal salutation when it comes to fake parcel service SMS messages.
Malicious apps could have obtained names from family or friends by reading contacts on smartphones.
Therefore, caution is advised when unexpected messages contain familiar names.
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“Smishing” scam: This is how you can prevent criminal parcel service SMS messages on your own smartphone
The following steps can prevent fraudulent SMS from ending up on your smartphone
(source: verbraucherzentrale.de)
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Many messaging apps have settings that allow you to only receive text messages from numbers saved in your contacts.
Important: Phone numbers for service offers such as appointment reminders or banking information must be saved in the contacts in order to continue receiving such messages.
Some smartphones or security apps offer spam filters: These can help reduce the number of fraudulent text messages.
Data economy: Only give out your cell phone number if absolutely necessary.
If nothing helps, changing your own phone number may be an option.
Meanwhile, the messaging service WhatsApp recently introduced a new function that is intended to protect users from rip-offs.
In addition, other scams have recently been making the rounds, particularly occurring during the Christmas season.