The scams you need to know about this month, including O2 cold calls and a scam Aldi website.
Currys impersonation email
A scam email claiming to be from Currys says that you’re eligible for a free air conditioner and dehumidifier.
It tells you that to receive the item, you need to complete a short ‘survey about home comfort needs’ and that your ‘free reward’ is ‘reserved for a limited time.’
You’re encouraged to follow a dodgy link to start the survey, which will lead to a website that will grab your personal data as you enter it in.
Scam emails like this can be reported by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk and websites to the National Cyber Security Centre.
Amazon scam email
A scam email impersonating Amazon uses accurate logos and branding and tells you that unusual activity has been detected on your Amazon account. It goes on to say that your account is ‘temporarily on hold.’
It provides a dodgy link to follow to sign into your account to restore access. However, this will likely lead to a copycat Amazon website set up to steal your personal details.
Scam emails like this can be reported by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk and websites to the National Cyber Security Centre.
RingGo scam text
Watch out for a sneaky scam text that claims your ‘parking payment remains outstanding from your latest parking activity’.
The message claims you can view your parking details and complete payment by visiting an ‘official website’. This is followed by a link to a fake RingGo website that sneakily contains ‘ringgo’ within the address.
Which? has reported the fake website. To avoid scams, do not click on links from text messages.
Scam messages can be reported by forwarding them to 7726, and websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.
O2 inactive SIM cold call and texts
Watch out for scam calls and texts targeting O2 customers.
The scam message or call claims your SIM is inactive and will expire. You’re typically told to give details to issue a new SIM, either over the phone or via a dodgy website.
O2 has warned that it has blocked over 1 billion scam messages to date, including thousands of the latest ‘inactive SIM’ scam.
Scam messages can be reported by forwarding them to 7726, and websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.
Aldi air-con scam
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has found fraudulent websites impersonating retailers such as Aldi to flog air conditioning systems.
It also revealed that scammers have created fraudulent emails in an attempt to promote dodgy or non-existent air conditioning products.
Kaspersky highlighted one example it came across where scammers impersonated a legitimate portable air cooler brand on a dodgy website designed to steal your personal and financial details as you enter them in.
In another example, scammers impersonated an existing brand that manufactures portable air coolers.
The websites it discovered used limited-time discounts and accurate branding of the companies they impersonated to trick shoppers into handing over their information.
Scam websites like these can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre and emails by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk