Fraudsters are continuously devising new methods to deceive individuals, with the latest menace now originating from regular text messages. Recent research conducted by security experts at Malwarebytes reveals a significant surge in the dissemination of fake chats to smartphones.
Some of these messages may start with a simple ‘Hello’, while others may imply prior acquaintance with the recipient. For instance, Malwarebytes highlighted a message stating, “Hi, I noticed your contact information is saved in my contacts, can you remind me where we talked before.”
The primary objective behind these deceptive messages is to establish a connection and extract personal details, which can then be exploited for data theft, as reported by the Express. Once a reply is received, scammers initiate a seemingly friendly conversation.
Malwarebytes elucidated that scammers ultimately aim to earn trust and potentially evolve the relationship into a costly romance or investment scam. Despite its incredibility, these schemes have proven to be remarkably successful.
The well-known “Hi mum” tactic, where scammers pose as a family member in distress, has resulted in substantial financial losses to victims across the UK.
It is now imperative for iPhone and Android users to remain vigilant, refrain from responding, and avoid clicking on any links sent by unfamiliar contacts. Malwarebytes cautioned that responding to such messages confirms the active status of your number, potentially flagging you as an engaged recipient, which scammers could exploit by selling or sharing your contact details.
In case you receive a suspicious message, here are some straightforward guidelines to follow: Be cautious, avoid engaging, and steer clear of clicking on any suspicious links.