Fraudsters use a tactic where the victim is first lured into a trap with a text message. After this, the actual crime is completed on the phone.
The Finnish Telemarkkintinitiliitto ry warns in its announcement about so-called hybrid scams, i.e. scams that use more than one medium. Such withdrawals typically combine text messages and phone calls.
The pattern often works by sending a text message to the target of the scam, claiming that he is the target of some kind of threat. Usually, the message is enhanced by falsely claiming that the user’s bank account has been logged into from an unknown location and is advised to call the number given in the message, if the login was not the user himself.
The purpose is to get the victim to act quickly without thinking and call the mentioned number. On the phone, the fraudster fishes for personal information and, for example, bank credentials under the guise of preventing unauthorized bank transfers.
According to the association, hybrid scams have recently occurred in the name of banks and crypto exchanges, among other things.
According to Suomen Telemarkkintinitiliitto ry, the best way to protect yourself from such scams is to refrain from opening links in messages and simply not calling the numbers mentioned in the messages.
– If the message seems genuine, check the matter on the company’s official website or customer service, it advises in its announcement.
If you mistakenly gave your information to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately to minimize financial losses. Then report the crime to the police.