09 March 2024 , 07:01
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All iPhone and Android users should be on high alert this weekend experts warning that there could be a sharp rise in money-stealing scams. The alert has come from the team at EE who say they expect to see cyber crooks using Mother's Day as a way of cashing in. With millions of us sending cards, gifts and flowers to loved ones it's the perfect time for scammers to send out fake messages in a bid to try and trick people.
It appears that UK users should be on the lookout for texts, calls and emails that suggest they have missed a delivery or need to click on a link to track a parcel. Those are the most common scams and can be especially easy to fall for at this special time of the year.
"The most common scams around Mother’s Day are delivery-related, as many plan to surprise the mums in their lives with gifts like flowers, chocolates, and champagne," EE explained.
"These scams include missed delivery or track delivery text scams, which prompt unsuspecting recipients to click on links that give criminals the opening they need to steal data or money."
EE says it blocked 3.3 million fraudulent text messages, and 4.9 million number spoofing scam calls around Mother’s Day last year and expects to block more than 10 million this month. New technology such as Enhanced Call Protection and AI is helping to stop most attacks from reaching consumers but that doesn't mean you can let your guard down.
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Speaking about the latest threat, Helen Burrows, Policy Director at BT/EE, said: "Mother’s Day is sadly always a scam risk for mums across the UK, as millions of unsolicited yet much-appreciated deliveries turn up on doorsteps across the country, opening the door for the now ubiquitous delivery scam. We stop millions of scam attempts from reaching our customers every month, and this weekend will be no different. I’d urge consumers to be on their guard this weekend for the few that make it through network defences."
If you are worried about becoming the next victim - here are some top tips to avoid being targeted.
• Take a moment to stop and think and trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true or is suspicious, there’s probably a catch
• Don’t stay on the phone unless you’re 100% sure the caller is genuine
• Don’t give away any of your personal details or give anyone access to your computer – if you think you might have provided your bank account details, contact your bank immediately
• Put the phone down and call back on a trusted number to verify the call
• Text the phone number and incident to 7726, free of charge, so your mobile phone provider can investigate
• Block numbers after reporting them
• Make others aware of these types of calls and the numbers they are coming from, so they are also in the know