Cybercriminals are constantly inventing new fraud methods to help them extort sensitive data or money. This time it’s definitely the latter, and fraudsters are counting on a rash reaction from potential victims.
“I dropped my phone into the toilet.” Fraudsters extort money this way
I report Poles have started receiving SMS messages from fraudsters again. The scheme of the scam is relatively simple. The cybercriminal pretends to be a close person of the victim (usually a daughter or son) claiming that he has lost or damaged his own phone. This explains why he sends messages from a foreign number. In many cases – as the portal writes – the conversation now moves to WhatsApp.
Later in the conversation, the scammer claims that he is buying a new phone, but he is having trouble paying for the product. Due to the destruction of the SIM card, he allegedly cannot confirm the purchase with an SMS password or log in to the bank’s mobile application. So he asks the victim for a transfer and assures him that he will return the money soon after he finishes installing the app.
In the screenshots documenting the (unsuccessful) fraud attempt, the cybercriminal tries to convince the victim that he urgently needs almost PLN 4,000. PLN for the purchase of an iPhone 14. He allegedly drowned his previous phone in the toilet. “Hi, my phone fell into the toilet today. Now my only problem is that the bank application doesn’t work because I have to confirm via SMS” – writes the fraudster in messages published by dobreprogramy.
Typically, the fraudster asks for money to be sent by express transfer and promises an immediate refund. However, he does not explain how he will make the payment using the borrowed money, since – as he argued earlier – he cannot use his bank account and approve transactions with an SMS password.
When receiving a message purporting to be from someone close to you who claims to need help, it is worth making sure that you are not dealing with an attempted fraud. This can be done by calling the person in question or – if this is not possible – asking for some fact that the fraudster will not know.
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
