O2 has warned customers about the key signs to spot a scam text and avoid your accounts being raided.
Cyber fraudsters are out in force and targeting people on any network, whether you’re iPhone or Android.
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When this happens via text it’s known as “smishing” – a twist on the common security term phishing, where the attacker pretends to be someone else to trick you.
Phishing attempts that happen on a call are known as “vishing”.
O2 has published some of the signs of a scam, so you can spot them out for yourself and keep your accounts safe.
And one of them is a simple two word phrase: Dear customer.
“Dear customer” may sound innocent.
But scammers don’t know your name so they tend to use something generic.
Important messages about your account from official sources are more likely to contain your name.
However, this should only be used as a guide rather than a definite rule – if someone has used your name and you’re still not sure, it’s always best to check with the company’s official contact details, not those mentioned in the text itself.
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Aside from this, other big giveaways that a fraudster is trying to play you is spelling mistakes.
Another is if the message asks you to provide sensitive personal or financial information or passwords, or to make transactions by following a link.
These could send you to dangerous malware, which can make scam purchases, or result in your private info or money being stolen.
And always look out for an urgent tone in the way the message is written, as scammers try to scare people into acting now so you don’t think your actions through.
O2 also says to avoid messages where “there are suspect links or there’s a name in the header with extra letters, numbers or substitutions.
“For example, a phishing scam trying to imitate O2 might replace the letter ‘O’ with the number zero.”
EE recently offered similar advice to mobile users.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
