Stay alert for a fresh Danish phishing SMS, exercise heightened vigilance against potential fraud.
Article:
Swindlers on the Loose: Beware of Fake SMS Messages Masquerading as Andel 🔒
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These days, dodgy text messages are a common thing in Denmark, but a new deceptive SMS is making the rounds that might just have you fooled.
The Latest Scam
Danish energy company Andel has admitted to a wave of fake texts flooding users, using their name and branding in the process. In a press release, the company warned its around one million Danish customers to be extra cautious.
The bogus texts claim to be from Andel and threaten to cut off electricity unless an outstanding balance is paid immediately. The messages come complete with links to supposed payment methods.
But hold up right there! Andel has made it clear these messages are the real deal—fake!
To drive the point home, the company provided a snapshot of one such text in the press release.
The Red Flags
To avoid being snagged, watch out for these suspicious features:
- Payment amounts: Amounts like 128 kroner or 322 kroner appear to be recurring themes in the current wave of shady texts.
- Email/Spelling errors: Typos, grammatical errors, or uncommon language may signal a scam.
- 'Urgent' action: Time-sensitive threats are another common tactic to pressure victims into providing sensitive information without hesitation.
How to Stay Safe
Police advise taking a deep breath, then ignoring and deleting anything that raises your suspicious antennae. Here are some additional tips:
- Don't reply. Never reply to or engage with suspicious messages. It's best to cut all communication.
- Always double-check. Verify the origin of texts, checking the sender's number and the accuracy of the message content.
- Contact your provider. If you're unsure, always reach out to your energy provider for confirmation before taking any action.
- Keep your guard up. This advice applies to all messages that ask for banking or payment card details, MitID logins, or provide external links.
Always approach these matters with caution, or if you're unsure, consult someone you trust before taking action.
Stay Informed, Stay Safe
Scammers are always on the prowl, looking for unsuspecting targets. Staying informed and vigilant is crucial to staying one step ahead of them. Keep an eye out for the latest scam alerts and security advice from your trusted sources. Install security software on your devices to protect against potential threats.
Remember, authorities, banks, and public institutions would never ask you to divulge sensitive information via text, phone, or email. Be wary of anyone demanding such information and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities immediately.
Read More
- #Crime
- Why Danish telecommunications companies can now scan your texts
- Hang up': Danish police warn against English 'robot voice' phone scam
- Foreigners in Denmark targeted by phone scammers
- Sources:
- [1] Andel press release
- [2] Cyberscoop.com – Smishing Triad targets financial institutions with Lighthouse smishing kit
- [3] SANS Institute – Smishing: Mobile devices and SMS phishing
- [4] European Union Agency for Cybersecurity – SMiShing: Guide for network and information systems security professionals
- Be cautious of fake SMS messages posing as Andel, a Danish energy company, that may claim an outstanding balance needs immediate payment to avoid electricity cutoffs.
- In these scams, watch out for recurring payment amounts like 128 kroner or 322 kroner, typos, grammatical errors, or uncommon language, and time-sensitive threats.
- If you receive a suspicious SMS, police advise ignoring and deleting it, never replying, and verifying the origin before taking any action.
- To stay safe, always reach out to your energy provider for confirmation before providing sensitive information, and keep your guard up for all messages asking for banking or payment card details, MitID logins, or providing external links.
- Technology and cybersecurity are vital in this era, so stay informed by consulting reliable sources for the latest scam alerts and security advice, and protect your devices with security software.
- Authorities, banks, and public institutions would never ask for sensitive information via text, phone, or email, so be wary of anyone demanding such information and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities immediately.
