According to the Money Saving Expert, app users need to take extra caution; otherwise, they are in danger of their accounts being wiped clean.
Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, has revealed some information about a disturbing fraud prevalent on Facebook and WhatsApp that’s connected to him.
A false post is being widely circulated on WhatsApp and Facebook that alleges Martin Lewis has verified the ‘con’ it mentions.
The warning says that a ‘high-tech’ con is making the rounds in banks. It also indicates that you receive a message indicating that no payment has been obtained from Vodafone, GiffGaff, O2, or EE and urges you to press on a link.
‘Your cash disappears immediately you click,’ says the viral warning.
It also says that banks then become overwhelmed with calls, and this morning, Martin Lewis verified this.
However, the Mirror says that Martin is disputing all this. ‘I am not involved with these viral scam messages.’ said Martin in a tweet.
‘I’ve not discussed it. It is good to be careful of the cons, but this one does not ring true.’
But, he warned that it did not mean that one should not worry about scams. Martin added, ‘if you receive the scam emails/texts it mentions, delete it because it is possibly phishing for information.’
‘However, I believe the scam alert is just as bad and does not originate from the City of London Police.’
Individuals who responded to the tweet stated that they were victims of an attempted scam and had recently received the warning.
One individual wrote, ‘I have received this warning! However, it is strange that the message was allegedly from Halifax with a link for clicking. I don’t own a Halifax account so, I deleted and blocked!’
Action Fraud, a section of the City of London Police, verified that as early as March a message existed, that was very similar, though they did not issue it.
‘We know that of late a rumor has been going around, through social media, SMS, and WhatsApp which mentions the City of London Police Fraud Team. It says that customers of Danske Bank are the target of a specific message (smishing) con. Action Fraud wrote that the message gave false information.
’Smishing scams are prevalent, however. Avoid clicking on attachments or links sent through strange emails or messages. Do not answer messages that request for your financial or personal details.’
‘Keep in mind that your bank does not ever request you to transfer cash from your account or communicate with you from nowhere, asking for details like your PIN or full banking password.
‘Any person who volunteers data upon receipt of this kind of message should instantly talk to their bank.’
If you have been a fraud target, Action Fraud gives the following suggestions:
- Do not click on unexpected messages on email, social media, WhatsApp, or texts, even if you think their source is trustworthy.
- First, carry out some online study to check whether any information is available on the official website.
- Make sure that your computer has anti-virus software.
- Avoid disclosing personal or financial information like passwords, usernames, ID, PINs numbers, or notable names.
If you believe you have been conned, contact Action Fraud and make a report by calling 0300 123 2040 or online at actionfraud.police.uk
image quka / Shutterstock.com
