For several months now, a new scam has been spreading via SMS. Fraudulent messages posing as package deliverers invite victims to click on a link to delay the delivery of their package, allegedly too large for a mailbox.
Did you receive an SMS message that the package cannot be delivered and that you need to change the delivery date by clicking on the link? Be careful as this is most likely a scam.
These SMS messages, which are circulating with increasing frequency, aim to encourage victims to click on a malicious link… But in reality, no package was delivered. Scammers aim to recover your personal information, such as bank details or passwords, or install a virus on your device.
Here are some clues to spot SMS phishing attempts:
- Missing brand or shipping company name in message.
- Shipping from a mobile phone number, a practice rarely used by legitimate delivery services.
- The presence of a suspicious URL, without a recognizable domain name.
- Identification of SMS as spam on your smartphone.
- Lack of delivery notification and mention of unexpected package.
Regardless, when we shop online or sign up for services, we all share our phone number. This information, which should be protected, can leak and become available to third parties, including the data brokers who sell it, increasing the risk of cold calling and fraud.
What to do if you receive a fake SMS?
Do not click on the link! It could redirect you to a malicious website designed to steal your personal or banking information.
Report SMS to 33700. This free service allows you to block the sender of the message and protect other people.
Be careful and use common sense. Remember that delivery companies never ask for payment or personal information via SMS.
If in doubt, always exercise caution and contact the relevant delivery company directly to verify the authenticity of the message.
Protect yourself from online fraud with Incognito
Incognito, created by Surfshark, is an automatic data deletion service that works for you. For a monthly subscription, Incogni is committed to protecting your information, including your phone number, from prying eyes.
Signing up is easy: use your email address and password, then verify your account. Provide your name and address to allow Incognito to request deletion of your information on your behalf.
Incogni offers you an intuitive dashboard to monitor actions taken. You will see a list of targeted brokers and will be notified of deletions in progress, with an algorithm that optimizes the effectiveness of interventions.
By entrusting the protection of your data to Incognito, you can relax knowing that Surfshark’s experts will manage the deletion of your data, in strict compliance with the GDPR. With a response time of 30 to 45 days assigned to brokers, Incogni ensures efficient deletion of your personal information.
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