Last year, the agency registered around 37,000 complaints about so-called phishing SMS messages - a doubling compared to 2022. This alarming increase in fraud cases underscores the need to guard against such tactics and educate the general public about this threat.
The scam: Fake SMS
Criminals use fake SMS messages to pose as parcel service providers or other companies and ask recipients to pay alleged customs duties and provide personal information.
The fraudsters do this cleverly: they use trustworthy-looking messages that often contain links to fake websites. Anyone who clicks on these links and enters personal data puts themselves directly at the mercy of fraudsters.
Warning from the Federal Network Agency
The Federal Network Agency warns urgently against reacting to such messages or even disclosing personal data. The authority takes active action against such attempted fraud by, among other things, switching off fraudulent phone numbers.
Statements from DHL and other companies
Companies like DHL also clearly distance themselves from such practices. A spokesperson for the company clarifies that DHL never requests personal information or requests payments via SMS. This statement is particularly important because scammers often misuse the name of well-known companies to create credibility.
Questions and answers:
Question 1: What should I do if I receive a suspicious SMS?
Answer 1 : You should under no circumstances click on links or provide any personal information. Instead, it is recommended to ignore the message and report it to the Federal Network Agency.
Question 2: How do I know if it is a fraudulent SMS?
Answer 2: Fraudulent messages often contain payment requests or requests to enter personal information. They may also contain links to fake websites. Caution is advised if the message is unexpected, suggests urgency or comes from unknown numbers. Spelling errors and unusual wording are also often indicators of fraud.
Question 3: What is the Federal Network Agency doing against SMS fraud?
Answer 3: Fraudulent phone numbers are switched off by the Federal Network Agency. Cases of SMS spam are investigated. Additionally, she is committed to educating the public to raise awareness of this scam.
Question 4: What makes phishing SMS (“smishing”) so dangerous?
Answer 4: Smishing is dangerous because it often results in people revealing sensitive information such as banking information or personal identification numbers. This information can then be misused for identity theft, financial fraud, or other criminal activities.
Question 5: How can you protect yourself against SMS fraud?
Answer 5: Don't click on links in suspicious messages, don't give out personal information, and learn about common scam methods. It's also a good idea to set up two-factor authentication for important accounts and change passwords regularly.
Conclusion
The wave of SMS fraud is a serious and growing problem. It highlights the need for consumers to actively educate themselves and take action to protect themselves. It's important to be careful about and report suspicious messages. This can not only improve your own protection, but also the protection of others.
Source: Die Zeit
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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 )