Bitdefender in recent days published the results of research relating to SMS scams worldwide, based on three months of data collection and analysis.
SMS services remain a key part of telecommunications; they do not require Internet access and companies use them to inform their customers.
This combination of features makes them incredibly useful for hackers who use this technology as bait for their relentless campaigns.
SMS scams are everywhere, and hackers are always looking for a social or political issue to exploit for profit. Scams are getting more and more creative: from a package delivery to a tax refund to a problem with your banking credentials, anyone can become a victim.
Bitdefender analyzed SMS campaigns around the world to determine what they are the most widespread scams and where they are mainly located. The research covers the period from the beginning of September to the beginning of December.
The main results include:
It is estimated that 15% of recipients click on a URL sent via a scam SMS, and 10% of these enter their personal details. Researchers estimate that each successful scam equates to an average loss of $1,000. Based on data collected over the three-month period, the hackers likely earned $40 million. Polling, politics and employment scams top the US, delivery scams dominate in the UK and Germany has almost double the number of banking scams compared to the European average. There most of the attack campaigns in Italy are linked to parcel delivery. Scammers are always finding new ways to trick people into handing over their data. Postal and delivery scams ask the user to pay an additional fee or customs fee, reschedule a package, or track the shipment.
How to identify a scam and how to protect yourself
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Most scams create a sense of urgency around the request, which comes in all sorts of forms. Whether it’s a package that’s about to be returned if you don’t provide your details, a prize that’s available for a limited time, or a bank account that will soon be suspended, these messages try to make the potential victim react in a way quickly and without thinking much about what is being asked of her.
Bitdefender recommends that you always be wary of requests that force you to provide your data. If in doubt, contact the company or institution that sent the SMS by other means of communication to confirm whether the request is legitimate and whether it was actually sent by them.
Full research is available Who.