iPhone and Android users should take care this weekend and be wary of any messages that suddenly ping up on their screens. EE is warning that the next 24 hours could see an explosion of scams as cyber crooks use the festive period to make a quick buck. Delivery-style scams, which suggest parcels are waiting to be dropped off or knock at the door has been missed, will be rife on what’s being called “Super Saturday” and being tricked could leave some seriously out of pocket.
EE says that on this date last year, it managed to block around three million SMS scams that were heading straight for customers’ phones. EE is now urging consumers to remain scam-aware, especially over the next couple of weeks, when the stress of holiday preparations can cloud judgement and result in people dropping their guard.
“Super Saturday is set to be the busiest day of the year for high-street retailers,” said Jonny Bunt, EE’s Director of Regulatory Affairs for Consumer division of BT Group.
“With deliveries piling up on the doorstep, scammers will be looking for ways to take advantage of the festive frenzy.
“It has been a busy year for fraudulent texts, we blocked over 45 million before they reached our customers, but the battle is never won, and some will always make it through. We would be nothing without the vigilance of our customers, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to take a couple of minutes to remind themselves of the signs, and to report suspicious texts for free to 7726.”
Along with issuing the warning, EE’s has also released some tips to help you stay safe which include.
• Never click on a link in a text from an unknown source.
• Trust your instincts. If something looks suspicious, there’s probably a catch.
• Keep your device software up to date.
• Never give out bank details, passwords or security codes on a website you’ve linked to.
• If your bank phones you, consider calling them back on a published number or using the 159 service
• If you get an expected call from someone, if in doubt put the phone down and call back on a number you trust
If you receive a suspicious text, forward the phone number and incident to 7726, free of charge, for your mobile provider to investigate. Once reported, block the number and notify others of the scam, so they can avoid falling victim.
