Vodafone are warning Irish customers of a dangerous new sophisticated scam text, which has begun circulating called ‘Flubot’.
Currently this scam only affects Android users, however it is believed that same could also soon affect Apple users.
This Flubot SMS (short message service), is now circulating in Ireland and customers are being asked to take the following actions should they receive same SMS from a company they do not recognise, regarding the tracking of a package.
(1) IGNORE: Do not click on any link included in the message.
(2) DELETE: Remove the full SMS from your phone immediately.
While the scam will primarily affect Android users, Vodafone encourage users of all handsets to be cautious when receiving such any SMS, particularly when you are not expecting a delivery or a contact from a courier.
The National Cyber Security Centre have expanded on these new tactics being employed by fraudsters.
Quote, “Such messages typically contain a link for the victim to click on to get details of a missed package delivery. This link will direct the victim to a fake website replicating the legitimate delivery company’s site. The victim will then be asked to download two .apk files which are banking trojans. Users will then be prompted to manually override and allow an untrusted app download.”
[Trojan: A trojan, is a type of malicious code or software that looks legitimate is designed to damage, disrupt, steal, or in general inflict harmful action on your data or network.]
[APK file: An APK file is an app created for Android, Google’s mobile operating system. Some apps come pre-installed on Android devices, while other apps can be downloaded from Google Play.]
We are aware here in Thurles of individuals receiving similar type SMS messages as shown hereunder.
This warning comes as Gardaí continuously warn the public to be alert for any suspicious texts, scam calls or information forms received online.
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