How to spot a text message scam

Related guides

• Phone scams
• How to spot a scam
• How to report a scam

Related topics

What is a text or messaging scam?

Scammers are increasingly taking advantage of smartphones and are getting very clever with how they try to take your hard-earned money.

They can even make it look like a legitimate organisation is contacting you via text or a messaging app by using identity masking technology to change the name displayed as the sender. This is known as ‘number spoofing’.

If you get sent a scam message, it’s important you report it so others don’t fall victim. Read more about how to report a scam in our free guide.

Fraudsters can use many different types of of messaging systems and apps, like SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Skype, Google Hangouts, Snapchat and many any other platforms to try scam you out of your money.

More examples of scams

• How to spot a tax and HMRC scam
• How to spot an investment scam
• How to spot a social media scam
• How to spot an email scam

What does a messaging scam look like?

While scammers are getting more cunning at making a scam message look like the real thing, there are some signs you can watch out for. Read our seven tips to avoid messaging scams.

1 Unexpected contact

Think about how that organisation normally contacts you and if it isn’t via a message, contact them directly to check it’s legitimate.

A genuine organisation will never contact you out of the blue and ask you to verify your details, request personal or banking details or tell you to transfer money via a message.

If in doubt, contact the organisation using a number you’ve found independently of the message.

2 Check for spelling or grammar errors

Genuine organisations will rarely, if ever, make glaring spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, and if so it will usually be an isolated incident.

If the message doesn’t look professional, it’s probably a scam – even if it drops into a message chain from your bank.

3 Don’t follow any links

If you follow a link in the message, it could send you to an imposter website set up to steal your money or personal data. In some cases it could even infect your smartphone with malware.

Always look up an organisation’s contact details independently and get in touch to verify the message.

4 Don’t share any personal information

If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam message, don’t share any personal information, your banking details or Pin.

Legitimate organisations, such as banks or HMRC, will never ask for your personal or banking details through a message or text.

Spot a scam bank message

If you get a message purporting to be from your bank, always treat this with caution. And know the eight things your bank will never ask you.

The British Bankers’ Association says your bank will never:

• Ask for your Pin or internet banking password
• Send someone to your home to collect cards or banking information
• Ask you to email or text personal or banking information
• Email a link where you have to then input your internet banking details
• Ask you to authorise a funds transfer which you haven’t requested
• Tell you to invest in diamonds, land or other commodities
• Ask you to carry out a test transaction
• Send you to a mobile app other than their own official app

5 Contact the organisation directly

If you’re suspicious, always check for their contact details online and get in touch directly to check it really was them.

Make sure you do this via a trusted contact number, such as the one listed on their website or one you’ve been given in any previous contact you’ve had with them via email or post.

6 Don’t reply, and delete it

If you reply, you could alert the scammers to the fact your number is active. This could then mean you’ll receive a barrage of unwanted messages.

You should make a note of the number and the content of the message so you can report it, you could even consider taking a screenshot of it as evidence.

Then delete it from your phone.

7 Report it

If you get sent a scam message, it’s important you report it so others don’t fall victim.

You can do this by contacting your mobile provider if it was a SMS. You should also report the scam to Action Fraud, no matter which platform you were contacted on.

The ‘Sarah’ scam

The scammer targets parents and sends a message from an unknown number, pretending to be from Sarah – or another common woman’s name – and says they’ve been in an accident.

An example reported to Action Fraud reads:

‘Hi it’s Sarah. I need you to do a favour if possible. I had a small accident & broke my fibula & left elbow. Can you text me back once you get this message x’

However, there are many different variations of the scam which involved different emergency scenarios or different women’s names.

The aim is to get you to reply to the message which will send the scammer £20.

Use these tips to avoid scams and learn what to do if you think your Apple ID has been compromised.

Phishing refers to fraudulent attempts to get personal information from you. Scammers use any means they can—spoofed emails and texts, misleading pop-up ads, fake downloads, calendar spam, even phony phone calls—to trick you into sharing information, such as your Apple ID password or credit card numbers.

If you receive a suspicious email that looks like it’s supposed to be from Apple, please forward it to [email protected]

On your Mac, include more details by selecting the email and choosing “Forward as Attachment” from the Message menu.

How to avoid phishing and other scams

While browsing the web, if you see a message that your iPhone, Mac, or other Apple device has a virus, or someone claiming to be from Apple calls and asks for your account name and password, you’re likely the target of a scam. Here are some things you can do to avoid them.

• Protect your Apple ID. Use two-factor authentication, always keep your contact information secure and up to date, and never share your Apple ID password or verification codes with anyone. Apple never asks for this information to provide support.
• Learn how to identify legitimate Apple emails about your App Store or iTunes Store purchases.
• Never use App Store, iTunes, and Apple Store Gift Cards to make other kinds of payments.
• If you send or receive money with Apple Pay (U.S. only), treat it like any other private transaction.
• Learn how to keep your Apple devices and data secure.
• In general, never share personal information like credit card numbers, unless you can verify the recipient is who they claim to be.
• Don’t follow links or open or save attachments in suspicious or unsolicited messages.
• If you have any doubts about a request or communication, or even if you if you just need to update your information with a company, contact that company directly.

If you believe that your Apple ID has been compromised, or if you might have entered your password or other personal info on a scam website, change your Apple ID password immediately.

If you get a suspicious email or message

Scammers try to copy email and text messages from legitimate companies to trick you into giving them your personal information and passwords. These signs can help you identify scams:

• The sender’s email or phone doesn’t match the name of the company that it claims to be from.
• The email or phone they used to contact you is different from the one that you gave that company.
• A link in a message looks right, but the URL doesn’t match the company’s website.*
• The message looks significantly different from other messages that you’ve received from the company.
• The message requests personal information, like a credit card number or account password.
• The message is unsolicited and contains an attachment.

Please report suspicious emails and messages:

• If you receive a phishing email that’s designed to look like it’s from Apple, send it to [email protected] If you forward a message from Mail on your Mac, include the header information by selecting the message and choosing Forward As Attachment from the Message menu.
• To report spam or other suspicious emails that you receive in your iCloud.com, me.com, or mac.com Inbox, send them to [email protected]
• To report spam or other suspicious messages that you receive through iMessage, tap Report Junk under the message. You can also block unwanted messages and calls.

If your web browser displays annoying pop-ups

While browsing the web, if you see a pop-up or alert that offers you a free prize or warns you about a problem with your device, don’t believe it. These types of pop-ups are usually fraudulent advertisements, designed to trick you into giving the scammer personal information or money.

Don’t call the number or follow the links to claim the prize or fix the problem. Ignore the message and simply navigate away from the page or close the entire window or tab.

If you’re prompted to download software

Use extreme caution if you download content from the internet. Some downloads found on the internet may not contain the software they claim to, or may contain software that you didn’t expect or want. This includes apps that ask to install configuration profiles that can then control your device. If installed, unknown or unwanted software may become intrusive and annoying and could even damage your Mac and steal your data.

To avoid unwanted, fake, or malicious software, install software from the App Store or get it directly from the developer’s website. Learn how to safely open software on your Mac or remove unwanted configuration profiles from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

If you get a suspicious phone call or voicemail

Scammers may spoof legitimate company phone numbers and use flattery and threats to pressure you into giving them information, money, and even iTunes gift cards. If you get an unsolicited or suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from Apple, just hang up.

You can report fraudulent tech support calls to the Federal Trade Commission (U.S. only) at or to your local law enforcement agency.

If you accepted a suspicious Calendar invitation

If you get an unwanted or suspicious calendar invitation in Mail or Calendar, you can report it as Junk in iCloud.

To delete an invitation that you already accepted, tap the event, then tap Decline or Delete Event. If you unintentionally subscribed to a calendar you didn’t want, open the Calendar app, tap Calendars and look for an unknown or suspicious calendar. Tap the calendar, then scroll down and tap Delete Calendar.

*To confirm the destination of a link on your Mac, hover your pointer over the link to see the URL. If you can’t see the URL in the status bar in Safari, choose View > Show Status Bar. On your iOS device, touch and hold the link.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Responding Can Expose You and Your Phone to Identity Theft

• Share
• Flipboard
• Email

Towfiqu Photography/Getty Images

• B.S., Texas A&M University

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning of a dangerous new breed of identity theft scams known as “smishing.” Similar to “phishing” scams — authentic-looking emails that appear to be from the victim’s bank, government agencies, or other well-known organizations — “smishing” scams are text messages sent to mobile phones.

While the risks of smishing scams are potentially devastating, the defense is simple. According to the FTC, “Just don’t text back.”

How the Scammer Sets the Trap

The scarily convincing smishing scams work like this: You get an unexpected text message appearing to be from your bank informing you that your checking account has been hacked into and deactivated “for your protection.” The message will tell you to reply or “text back” in order to reactivate your account. Other smishing scam text messages may include a link to a website you need to visit in order to resolve some non-existent problem.

What a Smishing Scam Text Message Might Look Like

Here is an example of one of the scam texts:

“User #25384: Your Gmail profile has been compromised. Text back SENDNOW in order to reactivate your account.”

What’s the Worst That Can Happen?

Do not respond to suspicious or unsolicited text messages, advises the FTC, warning that at least two bad things might happen if you do:

• Responding to the text message can allow malware to be installed that will silently collect personal information from your phone. Imagine what an identity thief could do with the information from an online banking or credit card management app. If they don’t use your information themselves, the spammers may sell it to marketers or other identity thieves.
• You might end up with unwanted charges on your cell phone bill. Depending on your service plan, you may be charged for sending and receiving text messages, even scams.

Yes, Unsolicited Text Messages Are Illegal

Under federal law, it is illegal to send unsolicited text messages or email to mobile devices, including cell phones and pagers without the owner’s permission. In addition, sending unsolicited text or voice mail or telemarketing messages using a mass auto-dialer, so-called “robocalls,” is illegal.

But There Are Exceptions to the Law

In some cases, unsolicited text messages are allowed.

• If you have established a relationship with a company, it may legally text you things like statements, account activity alerts, warranty information or special offers. In addition, schools are allowed to text informational or emergency messages to parents and students.
• Political surveys and fundraising messages from charities may be sent as text messages.

How to Deal With Smishing Scam Messages

The FTC advises not to be fooled by smishing scam texts messages. Remember this:

• None of the government agencies, banks, or other legitimate businesses will ever request personal financial information via text messages.
• Take your time. Smishing scams work by creating a false sense of urgency by demanding an immediate response.
• Never click on any links or call any phone numbers in an unsolicited text or email messages.
• Don’t respond in any way to smishing messages, even to ask the sender to leave you alone. Responding verifies that your phone number is active, which tells the scammer to keep trying.
• Delete the message from your phone.
• Report the suspect message to your cell phone service carrier’s spam/scam text reporting number or general customer service number.

Complaints about text message scams can be filed securely online using the FTC’s complaint assistant.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Scams

In March 2020, scammers began taking advantage of fears surrounding the novel coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic. The FTC warned that the scammers were using fake texts, emails, social media posts, and websites as ruses to steal consumers’ money and personal financial information.

According to the FTC, the bogus texts and posts may promote virus awareness and prevention tips, and fake information about COVID-19 cases in the victim’s neighborhood. The scams may also ask for donations to virus victims or offer advice on unproven cures and prevention methods. “If you see ads touting prevention, treatment, or cure claims for the coronavirus, ask yourself: if there’s been a medical breakthrough, would you be hearing about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch?” stated the FTC in a press release.

The COVID-19 scams grew even more common in April 2020 when the government announced that the IRS would be sending out relief checks to all adult Americans as part of the federal response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

The FTC warned of texts, robocalls, or other communications claiming to be from the U.S. Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge, including the purchase of gift cards.

In reality, stated the FTC, no action of any kind is required to get the stimulus checks. “As long as you filed taxes for 2018 and/or 2019, the federal government likely has the information it needs to send you your money,” advised the FTC. “Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who are otherwise not required to file a tax return also do not need to do anything to receive their money. If you otherwise have not filed taxes recently, you may need to submit a simple tax return to get your check.”

MANILA, Philippines–With more and more people becoming victims of text message scams, the Senate has sought to probe what telecommunications companies and government regulators are doing against the illicit activities.

“There is a need to investigate how these swindlers get access to mobile numbers of postpaid subscribers and institute measures that will strengthen the protection of mobile phone subscribers,” Senator Manuel Lapid said in a Senate resolution calling for an investigation.

Globe has previously issued several ways to identify when a scam is legitimate or when it is a scam.

1. The sender of the message comes from an 11-digit mobile number

According to Globe, legitimate text messages from them or other businesses authorized to send text advisories will be labeled accordingly and will not come from an unidentified mobile number. This applies even if the text message body claims to be a “GLOBE ADVISORY.”

“Subscribers may validate unusual texts and calls with the company’s customer service agents,” Yoly Crisanto, Globe SVP for Corporate Communications, said in the advisory.

2. Some amount of money involved or sending a message to another number

Text message scams aim to extort money or load credits from others by tricking them to do a “Share-A-Load” transaction. The text scam falsely accuses the subscriber of incurring additional charges and provides the victim with a message format to be sent to a mobile number for an alleged refund.

A sample provided by Globe is as follows: “Globe LTE Advisory: Your postpaid account has been charged P500 for LTE use. Is this a wrong charge? Text 500 send to 2936XXXXXXX for REFUND.”

Crisanto said that “by adding the number “2” before the 10-digit cell phone number of the recipient, the unsuspecting subscriber would have done a Share-A-Load transaction, thus the sum of 500 pesos in the two examples above would be transferred or credited to the prepaid number to which the message was sent to.

3. Winning alleged raffle prizes

Globe also warned against text scams that involve winning prizes from raffles and stating the steps on how the customer can claim the alleged prize. These scams however aim to trick customers to give them money or load credits in exchange for the non-existent raffle prize. If you did not join any raffle contest, do not believe any text message about winning it.

4. Relatives in trouble abroad

Among the most common text scams involve those that call for help from relatives who are in trouble abroad. The “relative” allegedly encountered problems while on a trip abroad and requests for some form of monetary assistance often through load credits or sometimes through money transfer services.

“Another text scam involves relatives working abroad supposedly using a new prepaid number, also aimed at tricking subscribers into doing a Share-A-Load transaction,” Globe said in their statement.

5. Government agencies do not conduct transactions through text messages

Several text messages have previously proliferated claiming to be from the “President Aquino Foundation” informing the subscriber about winning hundreds of thousands of pesos in a raffle. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was implicated in the scam when the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or Conditional Cast Transfer Program was cited as the host of the raffle.

DSWD secretary Corazon Soliman issued a public advisory saying that their agency does not hold raffles. There is also no such President Benigno Aquino Foundation.

“Globe customers are advised not to respond and, instead, immediately report suspicious text messages to authorized Globe customer service channels. Customers may report mobile numbers used in sending out fraudulent or scam text messages,” Crisanto said.

“Globe customers may report via the Globe website through Talk2Globe Chat (); send a message through Globe Contact Form () and by tweeting @Talk2GLOBE on Twitter.

The National Telecommunications Commission which is mandated with regulating mobile services, has previously admitted the difficulty in stopping scammers because when they block a certain SIM from sending messages, they can just get a new one.

Mobile phones have become a constant companion for many people around the world. Even with the presence of social media networks and messaging platforms that allow online communication—such as Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp—many still choose to use SMS, whether for work or personal purposes.

With this, you must be wary of scam artists targeting you through your phone. These may come in the form of phone calls, emails, and text messages. While you believe that you can immediately recognize a fraud when you see one, it may not be the same for everyone. A study shows that more than 97% of consumers were unable to identify phishing scams presented to them accurately.

SMS scam tactics are commonplace. You or someone close to you may fall victim to it tomorrow or some other time. Fortunately, there are ways to recognize fraudulent text messages quickly and protect yourself from giving away any crucial personal information. Let’s get started.

Take a closer look at the number

When you receive an unidentified text message, look at the sender. If it claims to be your credit card company or insurance agent, check their business mobile number or contact them through a different communication channel for verification.

Meanwhile, if the number is unusually long compared to other legitimate marketing shortcodes, it is highly likely that it’s a scam. If you are suspicious, ignore, delete, or block the number from your device to avoid further unwarranted SMS messages from them.

Suspicious random family emergency texts

This SMS scam tactic is one of the oldest and most common tricks in the book. Fraudsters will send you a text message saying an immediate family member who lives in (location) or is traveling to (location) has gotten into trouble or an accident. They will then ask for financial help through money transfer, for it’s the only way to help them.

This type of SMS scam can be petrifying, but that’s why it works—it is a scare tactic. When you receive a message like this, don’t panic and think rationally. Contact the aforementioned family member or reach out to a trusted friend to verify the sender’s story.

Fishy raffle or contest prizes

Another common SMS trick also happens to use a simple tactic, which is informing the target that they’ve won a prize or a giveaway. Often, the message includes instructions on how to claim the reward, usually through a hyperlink. However, it’s just a trick to acquire your personal details.

Obviously, if you did not enter to win any contest or giveaway promo, ignore the message. If you’re not entirely sure, reach out to the brand or company through their official social media pages to confirm.

Be cautious of text messages containing links

As a rule of thumb, do not tap on links in suspicious text messages. Many SMS scams contain links that you have no way of knowing whether it’s safe. Apart from it being a ploy to get your personal information, it can also spread malware on your device. To be safe, never trust a random link from text messages.

Pay attention to the grammar

Many SMS phishing attempts come from countries where English is not the first language. Because of this, a lot of scammers commit blatant spelling or grammar mistakes that are relatively easy to spot, especially for native English speakers.

These mistakes can be as simple as missing punctuation or improper capitalization, misplaced words, or generally, any sentence that just seems off. Consider these mishaps as warning signs. When you feel like the message feels not right, be wary, and it is best to ignore it.

Keep watch of reactivation scams

Reactivation scams often look innocent and legitimate on the surface. This type of SMS scam usually indicates that “your [account, password, email, or the likes,] has been compromised or used with another device. Your account has been deactivated for your protection.” It sounds frightening and all until they ask that you text a specific code or word to the number to reactivate your account.

In case you receive this kind of message, simply check the accounts mentioned. When you see that they have not been deactivated, contrary to the message you received, then you know what to do next—ignore the text message and block (and report) them.

Look out for anything out of character

Whether it’s a family emergency scam or a parcel delivery phishing message, keep watch of anything that’s slightly suspicious or inappropriate under the circumstances. For instance, you may receive a message posing as a relative, but they don’t greet you or text in the same way as the fraudster. Additionally, a Korean company would not exactly greet an American customer with a “Hello mate.”

Protect yourself from SMS scams

Text message scams are arguably one of the world’s biggest scams. It has been around long before digital communication entered the scene and continues to prey on targets today. To remain safe against these fraudulent acts, be skeptical of any unidentified SMS messages you receive. Hopefully, the tips above can help you avoid falling prey to such scams.

Share this page

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linked-In

• How to Recognize Phishing
• How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks
• What to Do If You Suspect a Phishing Attack
• What to Do If You Responded to a Phishing Email
• How to Report Phishing

How to Recognize Phishing

Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. They may try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that people lost $57 million to phishing schemes in one year.

Scammers often update their tactics, but there are some signs that will help you recognize a phishing email or text message.

Phishing emails and text messages may look like they’re from a company you know or trust. They may look like they’re from a bank, a credit card company, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store.

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. They may

• say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
• claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information
• say you must confirm some personal information
• include a fake invoice
• want you to click on a link to make a payment
• say you’re eligible to register for a government refund
• offer a coupon for free stuff

Here’s a real world example of a phishing email.

Imagine you saw this in your inbox. Do you see any signs that it’s a scam? Let’s take a look.

• The email looks like it’s from a company you may know and trust: Netflix. It even uses a Netflix logo and header.
• The email says your account is on hold because of a billing problem.
• The email has a generic greeting, “Hi Dear.” If you have an account with the business, it probably wouldn’t use a generic greeting like this.
• The email invites you to click on a link to update your payment details.

While, at a glance, this email might look real, it’s not. The scammers who send emails like this one do not have anything to do with the companies they pretend to be. Phishing emails can have real consequences for people who give scammers their information. And they can harm the reputation of the companies they’re spoofing.

How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks

Your email spam filters may keep many phishing emails out of your inbox. But scammers are always trying to outsmart spam filters, so it’s a good idea to add extra layers of protection. Here are four steps you can take today to protect yourself from phishing attacks.

Four Steps to Protect Yourself From Phishing

1. Protect your computer by using security software. Set the software to update automatically so it can deal with any new security threats.

2. Protect your mobile phone by setting software to update automatically. These updates could give you critical protection against security threats.

3. Protect your accounts by using multi-factor authentication. Some accounts offer extra security by requiring two or more credentials to log in to your account. This is called multi-factor authentication. The additional credentials you need to log in to your account fall into two categories:

• Something you have — like a passcode you get via text message or an authentication app.
• Something you are — like a scan of your fingerprint, your retina, or your face.

Multi-factor authentication makes it harder for scammers to log in to your accounts if they do get your username and password.

4. Protect your data by backing it up. Back up your data and make sure those backups aren’t connected to your home network. You can copy your computer files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Back up the data on your phone, too.

What to Do If You Suspect a Phishing Attack

If you get an email or a text message that asks you to click on a link or open an attachment, answer this question: Do I have an account with the company or know the person that contacted me?

If the answer is “No,” it could be a phishing scam. Go back and review the tips in How to recognize phishing and look for signs of a phishing scam. If you see them, report the message and then delete it.

If the answer is “Yes,” contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Not the information in the email. Attachments and links can install harmful malware.

What to Do If You Responded to a Phishing Email

If you think a scammer has your information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, go to IdentityTheft.gov. There you’ll see the specific steps to take based on the information that you lost.

If you think you clicked on a link or opened an attachment that downloaded harmful software, update your computer’s security software. Then run a scan.

How to Report Phishing

If you got a phishing email or text message, report it. The information you give can help fight the scammers.

Friday January 15, 2021, 8:03 PM

Video report by ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi

Among the many difficulties the Covid pandemic has caused, it has provided an opportunity for scammers to target vulnerable people and get hold of people’s money.

There are several scams currently doing the rounds including ones claiming to be from the government, your GP surgery, the NHS, HMRC or even the World Health Organization (WHO) – that police are urging the public to be aware of.

Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) lead officer Katherine Hart said: “Fraudsters have been relentlessly using the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns to mask their attempts to steal the public’s money.”

She continues: “While this instance of the fraud contained mis-spellings that provide red flags to the recipient, many others do not.

“The websites they link to may appear almost indistinguishable from the genuine article, making the fraud convincing.”

This is not just annoying spam; it can be dangerous. Here, we debunk some of the most circulated Covid-19 messages that have spread at speed.

What are these current Covid scams? How can I spot them? And what should you do if you receive one?

Coronavirus support text

The claim: Scam texts often include links or attachments which you should never click on.

Many of them are very convincing.

Ofcom provide this example of a text claiming to be sent by the government, offering a coronavirus support payment but is in fact a phishing scam; the link on message (left) will take you through to a very convincing website:

How do I spot it: Look at the URL. While the website design is a good likeness of the real deal, the link is not to the UK government website.

Texts saying you will be fined for leaving the house during lockdown

The claim: Scam texts are doing the rounds that purport to be from the government warning you you will be fined for leaving your home, encouraging you to click on the link to find out more information.

How do I spot it? The government has been sending out official text alerts during the coronavirus pandemic. These are legitimate messages that contain updates on the latest government advice, on, for example, lockdown rules.

Ms Hart says any genuine correspondence from government would never ask for personal banking information and added: “This is a time of increased vulnerability for everyone, and I am deeply concerned that the public is more likely to become victims of these scams.

The texts come from ‘UK_Gov’.

The wording for all the messages will be the same regardless of what network you’re on.

Ofcome say: “If you receive a message that is different to this one, it is unlikely to be an official Government message. You should therefore ignore it, delete it and report it.”

Calls claiming your broadband will be disconnected

Some of these scam calls also claim to be regulator Ofcom

According to Ofcom, a recorded message or caller will claim your broadband needs to be slowed down or switched off because of more people working from home during lockdown.

How to spot this: The regulator says: “Ofcom will never call you out of the blue like this. If you receive one of these calls claiming to be from us, please hang up.”

Coronavirus tracking app scams

The claim: People are also being targeted by scammers mimicking the government’s coronavirus tracking app, according to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

The link will take you through to a website where you will be asked to enter your personal information. Do not click on the link. Ofcom say you should delete the text and report it to Action Fraud.

How do you spot it: You will be alerted through the NHS app not by text message and you will never be asked to enter your bank details.

Covid-19 vaccination scams

The claim: Victims of this scam are contacted by phone or text by scammers purporting to be from the NHS telling people they are eligible for a Covid vaccine. They might offer to discuss your medical needs.

The victim is encouraged to either press a number key on their telephone or click on a link in a text message.

These calls are designed to extract your personal or financial information putting you at risk of identity or financial theft.

How to spot this: The NHS would not contact you by phone unless you have asked for a call back (ie you are awaiting tests results for something other than Covid); WHO have other things to do.

The NHS who will also never ask for you for personal or financial details.

The easiest way to be reassured is to call your GP’s surgery if the call claims to come from them to see if they have tried to contact you.

Fraudsters offering fake tax refund

The claim: People are being tricked into handing over their bank details after receiving a text falsely telling them they are due back more than £200 from the government.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has warned people to be vigilant after seeing text messages which said: “we have been instructed by the goverment (sic) to issue a tax refund off (sic) £230 due to the recent lockdown”.

The message takes people to a website link, where they are asked to enter their bank details under the guise of verification and transfer of the cash payment.

How to spot it: The spelling mistake is a clear red flag.

The CTSI have described the text as “entirely fraudulent” and said “the public should ignore these messages”.

How you can check whether a message you receive is true and how to not spread fake news about coronavirus

Are there spelling errors and strange punctuation? Lots of capital letters are also a giveaway as is a strange URL. Information from reputable sources will be written in clear, grammatically correct English.

If you receive a call, text or other communication that you think might be a scam, hang up or delete the text and report it to Action Fraud, including the number that was used to contact you.

Play detective and look at fact-checking websites. Poynter.org has a Coronavirus facts database that has collated many of the most misleading messages.

The government’s SHARE checklist is a handy tool to take a look at if you’re unsure about the validity of any claims you have been sent or have seen on social media.

Netflix warns users that their account will be deleted in case they fall prey to the new scam!

There is a new scam in the air in which Netflix users are receiving emails and text messages, and they are asked to provide their Netflix account credentials and their payment detail. The user may receive a message or an email stating that their “monthly payment was unsuccessful and they need to re-enter their banking details”.

The email or the text message may also contain a URL, which is actually a phishing link. If the user clicks on that link, they may land on a fake page that seems to be similar to the Netflix payment gateway. If you enter your details there, then you are being tricked and now the scammers have your banking details.

Netflix has warned all of its users on its website of this scam and has also said that they would be forced to delete your account.

Netflix has also clarified that they will not ask for any sort of credentials through a text message, an email, or through a third-party vendor. Netflix has published the following statement on their website:

“We will never ask you to enter your personal information in a text or email. This includes credit or debit card numbers, bank account details, Netflix passwords”.

They have also stated,

“If the text or email links to a URL that you don’t recognize, don’t tap or click it. If you did already, do not enter any information on the website that opened. “Scammers can’t get information from you unless you give it to them. So don’t click any links in the messages or reply to them.”

How To Spot a Scam Email or Text Message

In case you receive an email or text message of such type, you will be able to identify their scam easily if you notice these things:

• There will be numerous typos and grammatical mistakes in the email or the text message.
• The subject line of the mail will be bilingual.
• In the first line of the mail, they will be referring to you as “User” or “Customer” rather than stating your real name.

What to Do In Case You Have Clicked on the Link

• Contact [email protected] immediately.
• Change your Netflix Username and Password, and also consider changing credentials of any other social platforms that you may use with the same password and username.
• Contact your bank immediately and let them know that your details may be compromised.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Do you want to get back into the dating game after a shorter or extended break? Nowadays, that is easy thanks to the numerous dating services and websites. One top-rated service is Plenty of Fish or POF for short.

There is a flaw with POF, as with most other dating services. Some of the profiles are fake. If you want to learn how to tell if the POF profile is fake, keep reading. You will learn about different methods for figuring out such profiles, why people do it, and how to stay away from them.

Why Do People Make Fake POF Profiles?

You are not the only one wondering why some people decide to make fake dating profiles on various sites, including POF. There are several reasons, but the most prominent ones are low self-esteem, wanting to scam people, as well as sheer boredom.

People with low self-esteem are everywhere, and if that’s the reason why they are faking, you can at least try to understand them. They are not evil scamming liars who try to steal your money. That kind of fake profiles is the worst and the most dangerous.

Scammers are running rampant on all dating services, and there is no exception or safe place. However, they usually aren’t too bright, and you can see them from a mile away. We’ll discuss them in more detail later.

Bored people are slightly more malicious than the lonely ones. They are toying with people’s feelings, and there is no excuse for that. The thing they are doing is called catfishing, and they are often messing with people using hot profile pics, and claiming to be somebody else.

On rare occasions, there are also jealous significant others, stalkers, and internet trolls. You should report all sorts of fake profiles if you happen to get in touch with them on POF.

The Best Way to Avoid Fake POF Profiles

There are specific measures you can take to stay safe from fake POF profiles. If you can, don’t communicate with them at all. As soon as they send you outgoing links, or try to move the conversation away from the POF platform, disengage from communication.

Scammers would often try to lure you into clicking on shady links containing malware or selling you some products. Only move to other platforms when you know that you can believe the person. There’s no telling when to trust a person on a dating site, but use POF for at least two weeks before moving the talk somewhere else.

Don’t worry because scammers don’t like meeting in person. They always come up with some excuses, even if they claim that they live near you. That’s also a smart way of testing a scammer, ask them out and see what they say. You don’t need to go through with it. We advise not even considering it.

Become a Dating Site Sleuth

This list could be very long, so let’s list the most common tells of fake POF profiles. Here are the steps you can take to determine how genuine a profile on POF is.

1. Their profile looks out of the ordinary, with over the top pictures or About Me sections. Sometimes the images are out of place, showing cleavage or their swimsuit. These are undoubtedly fake profiles unless they have more than a few pics, and some of them are tasteful.
2. The about me pages of fake profiles are usually short and monotonous. If it seems robotic to you, it is likely a fake profile. Look for profiles with longer descriptions and proper use of grammar if you want to stay safe.
3. Besides the short about me page, fake users also have only one or two pictures on their profile. When a profile seems too effortless, it is most likely fake.
4. They will try to convince you to use other means of communication. Never say yes to that if you’ve only met the person. These are often automated messages. Ask them something particular if you want to see if you’re chatting with a bot or a human being. Always keep a keen eye on the grammar, as it can help you notice a fake profile.
5. Take into account their profile picture, description, and who they are claiming to be. If the person looks a lot younger than they say they are, the profile is probably fake. Most scammers pretend to be attractive women, please don’t fall for that like a typical lonely guy.

Reverse Search Their Picture

If you are talking to a hot stranger on POF, always consider searching up their image on Google. It’s easy, follow the steps:

1. Right-click the suspect’s picture on POF. Select Copy Image Address (or URL).
2. Open Google image search.
3. Click on the camera icon next to the search bar (Search by Image).
4. Paste the image address you copied in step 1.
5. Click on Search by Image.
6. If you get many results of the same photo model (they probably took a celebrity, model, or stock image photo online), you can safely assume this POF profile is fake. Often, these scammers use the same picture on more than one dating website.

That’s a very reliable way of recognizing scammers on POF or any other dating service. Don’t forget to image-search a sketchy profile when unsure of its authenticity.

Don’t Get Catfished

With the advice you got here, it will be nearly impossible to get scammed on POF or any other dating website. Always report a profile if you notice that it is fake so that admins can remove it from the platform.

If an image is unrealistic, consider an image search for this person. In case they sound funny or odd, ask for specific details or ignore them altogether.

Has anyone tried to scam you on POF or any other dating platform? Do you know of any other way to spot a fake profile? Let us know in the comments section below.