If It's Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

Fraudsters will typically send you a short message service (SMS), or more commonly known as text message, with an enticing offer or promise to lure and grab your attention. Normally, there is a return telephone number included or you are asked to respond with a text message.

Over the years, the text message fraud has become increasingly sophisticated, with the fraudsters conducting their research ahead of their fraudulent campaign of text messages being sent. Fraudsters may operate alone or more commonly as part of part of large group. Fraudsters can be based anywhere in the world. They may target individuals or their fraudulent campaigns may be widely targeted.

What we know is that the fraudster has somehow gained access to their intended victim’s mobile phone numbers. This is important to know, as it means that they are able to call your mobile number as well as send you text messages.

What Should You Know ?

Typically, the fraudster will send you a text message, informing you that you have won a competition or have been chosen to receive a free prize or purporting to be your bank notifying you of fraud of your account.   The text messages are cleverly worded to grab your curiosity and entice a response from you.

The text message may ask you to respond by calling a telephone number or sending a text message or the fraudster may telephone you.  

If the fraudster asks you to respond by calling a telephone number, it may be that the telephone number is an expensive, premium rate number and they may deliberately keep you on the phone, asking multiple questions, to rack-up phone chargers for you as well as to gather your personal information, to be used for future compromise.

If the fraudster ask you to respond by sending a text message and you do send a text message reply, this will be an indicator to the fraudster that you have been ‘lured’.

After you send a text message in reply, the fraudster may telephone you by way of follow-up and may use the call to ask you for your personal, sensitive or your payment card information. You will find that the caller is very persistent and it is hard for you to end the call.

What Should You Do ?

You should always be suspicious, when you receive a text message from an unknown mobile number, telling you that you have won a competition, particularly when you have not entered the competition, telling you have been selected to receive a prize or telling you that your account has been compromised.

You should never reveal your personal details to a person unknown to you, who may send you a text message or telephone you.

If you have been defrauded via telephone or text message, you should always report it to the RCIPS.

Report to the RCIPS, call 911