Infecting Android phones with a malicious app - the result: financial damage through data theft or high phone bills
Christmas time is package time. Many people used this time to order Christmas presents online. Anyone waiting for a package is currently an easy victim of a scam.
“Attention – since last weekend there has been a rapid increase in fraudulent SMS messages that simulate the imminent delivery of a package. We have received more than 4,000 complaints about this in the last five days,” informs Dr. Klaus M. Steinmaurer, RTR's managing director for the telecommunications and postal department, explains: “The run-up to Christmas and lockdown are predestined for ordering parcels online. Many of us wait impatiently for our packages, are stressed and breathe a sigh of relief when we finally receive information about an order we have placed. Fraudsters take advantage of exactly this 'predicament' and randomly send fake parcel notifications to automatically generated phone numbers.”
Don't click on the link, delete SMS!
Opening fraudulent SMS does not cause any damage. Even just clicking on the link doesn't have any real negative consequences. “But if you then follow the request to install the 'Flubot' app, the trap springs shut! The app paralyzes the cell phone and reads most or even all of the data stored on the cell phone. Furthermore, the infected cell phone can send masses of SMS messages abroad and within the country in order to spread the link. This can in turn cause your cell phone bill to skyrocket,” explains Steinmaurer, explaining the fraud scenario and advises: “So simply delete dubious package notifications and ignore the link!”
App installed – contact your mobile phone provider!
Once the app is installed, it is difficult to remove. Attempts to uninstall often result in the app management crashing. Affected users who have installed the malicious app should contact their mobile operator immediately and switch off their smartphone until further measures have been clarified. The three major mobile operators have provided comprehensive information on their websites. This information is summarized on the RTR website at https://www.rtr.at/verdaechtige_rufnummernbereich .
It is usually impossible to determine who the fraudsters are because the sender ID is fake. Therefore, tracking doesn't work either. In some cases, the infected cell phones themselves become SMS boosters, which makes tracing pointless.
How do you recognize scam SMS?
“Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for identifying fraudulent text messages. In general, it is advisable to be suspicious and pay attention to whether the SMS text has any anomalies such as strange URLs, spelling errors or special characters in inappropriate places in the text, etc. These can be indications that something is wrong," informs Steinmaurer and finally advises: " If you have the slightest doubt as to whether a parcel notification is legitimate, there are other options: Check your current orders online from the mail order companies and only use the postal service providers' tracking apps offered via the official app stores.
Report fraudulent SMS at www.rufnummernabuse.at
Sender IDs of SMS and phone numbers that are used improperly can be disclosed www.rufnummernverkehrs.at This allows us to quickly identify fraudulent activities that occur frequently and inform the population.
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )