The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is warning consumers to be alert to scam text messages purporting to be from your telco.
ACMA says they have seen an alarming rise in SMS telco impersonation scams and is warning people to be on the lookout.
Scammers have been impersonating trusted brands such as Optus, Vodafone, and Telstra, sending messages containing fraudulent links. The messages often mimic the official letterhead of the companies they’re impersonating.
ACMA advises they have seen examples that resemble a fake bill or letters saying there is a problem with your account. There could also be offers of a bonus, reward points or another prize to collect or redeem.
But the links in the messages are fraudulent and will take you to scam websites that requires your login or financial details, which the scammer will then steal.
What you need to look for
ACMA says one of the key signs that an SMS may be a telco impersonation scam are a sense of urgency in the words of the correspondence.
“Scammers try and create an urgent need to get you to click on a link,” ACMA says.
“They might say your service is about to be affected.”
Websites provided in these letters are usually incorrect. Often links lead to a web address that may contain the name of the telco being impersonated but is different from the real telco’s address. Keep an eye out for misspellings, unusual words or random letters and numbers in addresses.
It’s common for these scam messages to not use your name but will instead be addressed to ‘Dear customer’ or something similar.
How to protect yourself
ACMA says that if you are unsure if a message or call is genuine, to stop and check. Take a moment to assess the situation and don’t rush to act.
Never click any links in texts – even if you’re sure. Legitimate institutions like banks and government departments won’t send links directly in an SMS.
These may contain malware or may be phishing scams designed to steal your personal or financial details.
Similarly, never rely on contact information for a business that you got from a text message. Checking a message is genuine by calling the business yourself is a good idea – but not if you’re using contact information supplied by the scammer.
If you’re really unsure about a particular text, get a family member or friend you can trust and tell them about any correspondence or online requests.
“If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately to stop any payments and tell your telco,” ACMA says.
Have you received any suspicious text messages lately? Have you ever fallen victim to a scam? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: I got scammed on Facebook Marketplace. This is what happened next
