Scammers have developed a new banking scam technique that makes thousands of victims in France at the moment. And they know how to put pressure with an alarmist SMS on internet payment.
As we know, the crooks retreat to nothing to scam their victims. They show an unlimited imagination, especially since they have countless digital means today to achieve their ends, especially with identity theft techniques (what is called phishing) that they use abundantly in emails and SMS. And which become more and more sophisticated. This is evidenced by a new formidable campaign which is currently raging in France, as noted by our colleagues from Clubic.
Thus, for a few weeks, thousands of people have received an SMS concerning a transaction on the Internet, of the type: “To confirm your internet payment of 1,456 euros, enter the code 220817. If you are not at the origin of this transaction, immediately contact 09 77 19 75 01.” An alarmist message, which naturally seems to come from their bank. And for good reason, the number used to send the SMS is a “normal” French number: it has been diverted by the crooks thanks to the so -called spoofing technique, which strengthens its credibility.
Faced with the urgency of the situation, with this unauthorized transaction in a significant amount, targets panic and, without thinking more, immediately call the number in 09, thinking of joining a bank relief service. And this is where the trap closes. Because, in reality, this issue belongs to the crooks, who then pretended to be banking agents and requests sensitive information, in particular the access codes of their account. Some go so far as to simulate safety procedures to make the operation even more credible! Once this information is in hand, they just have to use.
Recall that in this kind of situation, you should never recall a number mentioned in an SMS. If you receive a message of this type, the best thing to do is contact your bank directly using the official number appearing on your bank statements or on your bank’s website. You can also connect to your online customer area to check if there is a current transaction on your account. Never share your bank information by phone, even if the interlocutor seems convincing and pressing, with a professional tone.
To point out this type of scam very fashionable and prevent others from falling into this kind of trap, immediately transfer the message to SPAM signal, to the number 33,700the platform to combat SMS and unwanted calls, or at the site Pharosthe government portal to report illicit content. You can also use the SIGNAL CONSO application or the “Phishing Initiative, which aim to protect consumers.
Finally, if you have been the victim of this scam, it is crucial to react quickly. Contact your bank immediately to oppose any suspicious transaction, change your safety codes, and file a complaint with the police. This rapid approach can limit damage and block the actions of fraudsters before they cause too much prejudices