Fraudsters are constantly devising new methods to deceive individuals, and the latest threat appears to be coming through text messages. Research conducted by security experts at Malwarebytes has revealed a significant increase in fraudulent chats being sent to smartphones.
Some of these messages start with a simple ‘Hello,’ while others imply prior acquaintance with the recipient. For instance, one message identified by Malwarebytes reads, “Hi, I noticed your contact information is saved in my contacts, can you remind me where we talked before.”
The primary objective of these deceptive messages is to establish a connection and acquire personal information, which can then be exploited for data theft, as reported by the Express. Once a recipient replies, scammers engage in a friendly conversation with the ultimate goal of building trust and potentially executing a romance or investment scam.
Despite its seemingly incredulous nature, these schemes have proven to be remarkably effective. The notorious “Hi mum” tactic, in which scammers pose as a distressed family member, has resulted in substantial monetary losses to digital criminals throughout the UK.
It is now imperative for owners of iPhones and Android devices to remain vigilant, refrain from responding, and avoid clicking on any links sent by unfamiliar contacts. Malwarebytes warns that responding to such messages confirms the active status of your number, marking you as a potential target for further scams or data sharing.
If you receive a suspicious message, here are some straightforward guidelines to follow.