#1
|
||
National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
(The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 24-- Pittsburgh police investigators warned cell phone customers Friday about a text-messaging scam that they say is reaching "epidemic" proportions nationwide.
People are receiving text messages as part of a phishing scam, in which victims are asked for their bank account numbers and PINs, said Detective Christopher Jordan of the Computer Crimes Unit. The scam affects Sprint cell-phone customers and involves dozens of banks, police said. A typical text message might read: "This is an automatic message from Star Bank. Your ATM card has been deactivated, and it is urgent that you call the following number." Those who send a text message to the number included in the phishing-scam text typically receive a return text asking for bank account and PIN information, Jordan said. Those who call the phone number, usually a 1-800 number, would be prompted to enter personal banking information through an automated system. The numbers included in the scam texts are "spoofed," Jordan said, easily created using computer software. "You basically call or text someone from your phone and your number, but this software makes it so that another number appears on the caller ID," Jordan said. "We haven't been able to trace or track these numbers." Four victims surfaced locally in the past week, but Jordan said none returned text messages or divulged personal information. "We want to get the word out because young kids who text a lot, or maybe older people who aren't that familiar with technology, might have received a cell phone for the holidays and might just automatically return a text message," Jordan said. "We want people to be careful." Banks typically don't contact customers via text message to address a problem with an account, city police spokeswoman Diane Richard said. Banks, instead, call customers directly. Phishing scams are common in e-mail accounts but have surfaced on cell phones in the past two years. The phishing scam on Sprint cells phones have affected customers in dozens of states, including New York, Michigan, Missouri and Texas, police said. Anyone who receives a suspicious text message should ignore it and contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at Codewww.ic3.gov |
The Following 16 Users Say Thank You to scott8813 For This Useful Post: | ||
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
This happened to me, its not just sprint but sprint subsadaries such as tracphone nextel virgin mobile helio Etc
|
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Vdubjetta98 For This Useful Post: | ||
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
I had a "Visa Alert" text yesterday.
What really scares me is that people are dumb enough to fall for these kinds of things. And these guys are no fun either. At least I could enjoy leading the Nigerian email scammers around, trying to get them to send me pictures and stuff. Used to make quite a hobby of that. |
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Moebius For This Useful Post: | ||
#4
|
||
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
“ Originally Posted by scott8813 ”(The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 24-- Pittsburgh police investigators warned cell phone customers Friday about a text-messaging scam that they say is reaching "epidemic" proportions nationwide.
People are receiving text messages as part of a phishing scam, in which victims are asked for their bank account numbers and PINs, said Detective Christopher Jordan of the Computer Crimes Unit. The scam affects Sprint cell-phone customers and involves dozens of banks, police said. A typical text message might read: "This is an automatic message from Star Bank. Your ATM card has been deactivated, and it is urgent that you call the following number." Those who send a text message to the number included in the phishing-scam text typically receive a return text asking for bank account and PIN information, Jordan said. Those who call the phone number, usually a 1-800 number, would be prompted to enter personal banking information through an automated system. The numbers included in the scam texts are "spoofed," Jordan said, easily created using computer software. "You basically call or text someone from your phone and your number, but this software makes it so that another number appears on the caller ID," Jordan said. "We haven't been able to trace or track these numbers." Four victims surfaced locally in the past week, but Jordan said none returned text messages or divulged personal information. "We want to get the word out because young kids who text a lot, or maybe older people who aren't that familiar with technology, might have received a cell phone for the holidays and might just automatically return a text message," Jordan said. "We want people to be careful." Banks typically don't contact customers via text message to address a problem with an account, city police spokeswoman Diane Richard said. Banks, instead, call customers directly. Phishing scams are common in e-mail accounts but have surfaced on cell phones in the past two years. The phishing scam on Sprint cells phones have affected customers in dozens of states, including New York, Michigan, Missouri and Texas, police said. Anyone who receives a suspicious text message should ignore it and contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at Codewww.ic3.gov thanks for this message...I have gotten 2 separate text messages stating they were from banks and saying that same thing....I thought it was very parculiar and one of them was a possible credit union bank I had along time ago around my university that had switched names and I could not remember its exact name....I had planned to look up the companies website and ask them what the deal was without replying straight to text because I thought it was suspicious....yes, I knew I was right!!!!!!! |
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to ICEM/\N For This Useful Post: | ||
#5
|
||
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
i got one too. it said from VISA and they're not in my phone book so it shouldn't entitle the sending number with any name but it did anyway. Very convincing.
|
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to scott8813 For This Useful Post: | ||
#6
|
||
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
Hahaha, me and my wife both got the good ol "VISA ALERT" messages on two different days. Funny stuff.
|
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Superman369 For This Useful Post: | ||
#7
|
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
its pretty much like the ebay password thing or log into ebay through this email hahahah yeah right.
|
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to iamdasht19 For This Useful Post: | ||
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Re: National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers
I have not got one yet, but thanks for the heads up!
|
The Following User Says Thank You to ronaldsdv For This Useful Post: | ||
Tags |
cell, customers, national, phishing, scam, sprint, targets |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
A new unblockable SMS phishing attack is targeting T-Mobile customers | phillynewsnow | AVN News Feed | 0 | 04-19-2022 10:36 AM |
Breaking news for sprint customers | iamdasht19 | Random Community Topics | 33 | 09-13-2009 01:33 AM |
sprint rebate scam | only1penny | Random Community Topics | 34 | 08-25-2009 03:37 AM |
[NEWS] Sprint to Rejuvenate Nextel National Network | puertoblack2003 | Random Community Topics | 0 | 11-02-2008 08:23 PM |
Sprint Mobile Email Work Gives Sprint Customers Access to Business Email on Instinct | puertoblack2003 | Random Community Topics | 0 | 06-21-2008 01:31 PM |
Layout Options | Width:
Fixed
Contact Us -
SPJ Bulletin -
Archive -
Privacy Statement -
Terms of Service -
Top
| |