Related Articles
Brits are being warned of five text messages you should never respond to as they are always scams. One recent example includes a cunning HMRC refund scheme text scam.
With cybersecurity at an all time high, expert have listed five common text scams and how to deal with them. One of the most common text message scams of 2024 is being told you have missed parcel delivery, or being told by someone claiming to be your ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ that they’re in need of money.
But chances are that it’s a scam and criminals are using dodgy texts trying to steal your money. And while email and phone scams are still around, scam text messages seem to be the new favourite for criminals.
To keep yourself safe from scamming criminals, Ben Van Pelt, founder of cybersecurity company TorGuard, shares 2024’s most recent text scams and what to do if you receive one.
1. ECO4 scheme text scams
Most recently, people are being warned to look out for scam texts claiming to offer ECO4 grants. Ben says: “Be wary of suspicious texts mentioning ECO4 grants.
“Scammers are using these government energy efficient schemes as a bait-and-switch to steal your personal details or payment details. If you’re wondering if a company is verified to work on government schemes, you can check them out on TrustMark’s website, which is a government-backed quality scheme.”
2. Missed delivery texts
If you regularly buy things online, watch out for those texts claiming you missed one. Scammers love to copy well-known delivery companies like DPD, UPS, Evri, and the Royal Mail to trick you into clicking dodgy links.
“Scammers might claim they have your package and need some details to verify ownership, or they might offer to resend a ‘delivery code’ to your device. They might also try to persuade you to click a link to ‘track’ or ‘reschedule’ delivery.
“Remember, never reply or click on the link in the text. Instead, go to the official website for the delivery service to track your package and get the latest updates,” Ben recommends.
3. HMRC refund texts
This scam involves fraudsters pretending to be from HMRC. They’ll send text messages saying you’re due a tax refund, prompting you to follow a malicious link to ‘claim your tax refund.’
“If you get a text saying it’s from HMRC, don’t trust it straight away. Log in to your official HMRC account instead to see if the information is genuine,” the expert added.
“HMRC might send you a text sometimes, but they’ll never ask for personal or financial information. If you ever get a text claiming to be from them and it asks that kind of stuff, it’s a scam.”
5. Texts saying that your subscription payment failed
Subscription services like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu are always getting targeted by scammers. They might try to trick you by claiming your account is locked due to a missed payment, or that you have an unexpected refund waiting.
“Remember, any unexpected text message from a subscription service could be a scam. If you’re unsure about the status of your subscription, log in to your account on the company’s website directly, and check your payment history,” Ben advises.
5. Crypto scams
Cryptocurrency scams are known as a ‘rug pull’, in which scammers create a new cryptocurrency that seems legit at first. But once enough people have invested, these scammers vanish with the invested money, leaving victims holding worthless cryptocurrency tokens. Ben advises to treat any offer of “free” Bitcoin the same as any other offer of free money.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, fraud or online crime (cybercrime) you can report it to Action Fraud online or via 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm). Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. It collects reports about fraud on behalf of the police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
