Rachel Diaz

Updated Wednesday, January 31, 2024-14:36

In today's digital age, the rise of phone scams has become a significant problem, affecting users of services as varied as banking

, e-commerce and postal mail

. These scams, which often involve spoofing trusted entities such as banks, Amazon, or postal services, are designed to trick people into obtaining personal and financial information. Scammers use sophisticated tactics such as phone calls and text messages that appear legitimate, to persuade victims to provide critical data such as credit card numbers, passwords, or even bank account access codes.

In order to prevent these situations, it is crucial to be informed and aware of the common strategies used by scammers. First, it is important to remember that financial institutions, e-commerce platforms, and mail services

will rarely request sensitive information

via phone calls or text messages. In addition, special attention should be paid to warning signs such as requests for urgent action or panic-inducing messages. Always verify the authenticity of communications by contacting the entity directly through official channels can be an effective measure to avoid falling into these traps.

The Post Office scam

The National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) has issued an alert about a fraudulent campaign that imitates Correos. Using deceptive SMS and emails, scammers attempt to steal banking and personal information under the guise of

confirming shipping details

or making customs payments. These types of tactics, known as 'phishing', pose a significant threat to users' security by exploiting their trust in seemingly legitimate communications from well-known companies.

Fraudulent emails or SMS typically contain the subject or words "you have a package waiting to be delivered," and report a package being held due to missed customs payments. Scammers request the purchase of a Paysafecard PIN code, sending it to a specific address. These emails

usually have spelling mistakes

and subtle differences in the domain they attach to the message, which can serve as an indication of their falsehood. Therefore, it is very important

NOT to click on

the link provided in the message.

The problem is that once you follow the link provided, it redirects to a fake payment gateway where

credit card details including CVV code and PIN

are requested . This tactic allows cybercriminals to obtain sensitive information, which can be used to make fraudulent transactions or for other malicious purposes. The gateway may also require two-factor authentication, which increases the appearance of legitimacy of the scam and further complicates the task of reclaiming the stolen money.

If you have received one of these messages but have not accessed the links or provided information, it is best to

mark the message as spam or block it

, and then delete it. If personal or banking information has already been provided, it is crucial to immediately contact the bank to take necessary security measures, such as canceling the card. In addition, it is advisable to search for yourself on the Internet to verify that personal data has not been exposed and, if so, exercise the right to be forgotten to delete it.

Go to the official websites

In case of doubts about the location or status of a Correos package, it is recommended to access the official Correos website and verify using the tracking number. Additionally, you can check if a communication is official

through the

email verification link provided by Correos. These types of precautions are essential to protect against phishing and other forms of cybercrime, which often take advantage of users' trust in communications from known and respected entities.

It's not your bank

An

_

_

_

_ The scammers, posing as employees of his bank, alerted this user to suspicious activity on his account. She was advised

to transfer his savings to a "safe account"

to protect them. This deception tactic, which included calls from a number that appeared to be from a branch of his bank, resulted in the loss of all of his savings.

Scammers used phone

spoofing

to make their number appear to be the branch's, thus gaining your trust. Despite his initial suspicions, he made transfers to the supposedly secure account after

receiving instructions and security codes via SMS

, which also appeared to come from his bank. After realizing the scam and contacting the bank, it disengaged, arguing that the responsibility fell on the client for having fallen for the scam, since he had verified the transfers himself.

The National Police in fact warns about the increase in

spoofing

scams and offers advice to avoid being a victim of these frauds. These include not providing personal or banking information by phone or SMS, since banks never request this information by these means. They also recommend

hanging up directly if a call seems suspicious

and contacting the bank through its official number. In addition, it is crucial not to provide passwords over the phone and always verify the authenticity of the interlocutor.

It is not a gift from Amazon

Another of the most widespread scams in the last year is an email from Amazon in which a series of products are offered at too

low a price or directly includes a coupon

to obtain an amount of money on purchases, for free. Like other communications, it is common for them to have spelling mistakes and for the sender to have a name similar to the online business but not exactly the same.

The problem is that the link included in the message to supposedly access Amazon and redeem the offer or gift is actually a fake website that

replicates the original

so that when the user enters their data, it steals from them. That's why Amazon has started spreading tips to help its users distinguish between legitimate promotions and scams. These include being wary of unsolicited giveaways and order confirmations, especially if they ask for banking details. Amazon emphasizes that they will never request sensitive information through SMS, calls or emails, and recommends always verifying the authenticity of links and distrusting communications that urge urgent action. He also advises to always verify the source of communications and

not make payments over the phone

.