Fraudsters are constantly devising new ways to deceive people, and the latest danger appears to be coming through regular text messages. Recent research conducted by cybersecurity experts at Malwarebytes reveals a significant increase in fraudulent messages being sent to smartphones.
Some messages start with a simple ‘Hello’, while others claim the cybercriminal is already familiar with the recipient. For instance, one message identified by Malwarebytes says, “Hi, I noticed your contact saved in my phone, can you remind me where we met before.”
The primary goal of these deceptive messages is to establish a connection and obtain personal information, which can then be exploited for data theft, as reported by The Express. According to Malwarebytes, scammers aim to engage in friendly conversations once a recipient responds. Their ultimate objective is to earn trust and potentially transition the interaction into a costly romance or investment scam, a tactic that has surprisingly high success rates.
The well-known “Hi mum” scheme, where scammers pretend to be a family member in distress, has resulted in substantial financial losses to victims across 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 unknown senders. Malwarebytes warns that replying to such messages confirms the active status of your number, making you a target for future scams where your contact information may be sold or shared.
In case you receive a suspicious message, here are some straightforward guidelines to follow to protect yourself.
