BLUF

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has received over 12,000 reports about text message scams—this article describes them and what to do if you receive a suspicious text message.

Summary

Text message scams might ask you to tap on a link to download an app to track or organise a time for a delivery or hear a voicemail message. This type of message could be a scam or malicious software such as Flubit. If you are at all suspicious, note the following advice from the ACCC:
  • Don't tap on the link. Delete the message immediately.
  • Clicking/tapping the link is likely to give scammers access to your passwords and accounts. 
  • It could also send Flubot text messages to the numbers stored in your phone, continuing and expanding the scam. 
  • If you have already clicked the link to download the application, your passwords and online accounts are now at risk from scammers. 
  • Don't enter any passwords or log into any accounts until you have cleaned your device. 
  • Learn more about scams at the ID Care website 
  • If you are a victim, make a report to ReportCyber. 
  • Report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page.
Learn more about text scams such as Flubit.

References