"Hi mom" or undelivered package: don't fall into the trap of "Smishing

The smishing technique

 "Hi mom/dad, my phone is broken, it's my temporary number. Send me a message as soon as possible on Whatsapp... »

If you are a mother or father, this type of text message might seem credible to you. This is what Françoise said to herself , who shared a call for caution. "I received this same message twice. My daughter told me that she had received it too, as well as other people who told me about it following my post on Facebook... ", she explains. 

Suspicious, Françoise fortunately did not follow up but wanted to warn Internet users so that uninformed people do not fall into the scam called "Hi mum" or "Hi Dad" (i.e. "Hello mom/dad") which has already claimed thousands of victims around the world... 

They want your money

Loss, theft, breakage, SIM card problems, depleted credit, there are many excuses to make moms and dads  fall into the trap. In the United States in particular, some scams go even further by taking the form of "virtual kidnappings" with scammers who even claim to have kidnapped their child. 

Once in contact with their victims, the scammers demand money by transfer or via payment coupons such as Neosurf, PCS, Toneo, or Transcash...  These contain a code that allows their holder to recover the amount of money.

Parcel scams

Another well-known scam using the same principle: a text message from a fake delivery person tells you that your package could not be delivered and that you have to reschedule a date and pay new delivery costs. 

Scammers here use the identity of a trusted organization to deceive victims. In the message, you will find a link to a site imitating Mondial Relay or Chronopost and which will ask you to provide your email address and bank details to pay the new delivery costs.  

In both cases, it is an attempt at "smishing",  a term derived from the combination of "SMS" and "Phishing". Scammers use the identity of a well-known person or company to put the recipient at ease and steal money. 

Our tips for avoiding scams

We advise you to be very careful if you are contacted by an unknown number.

1. Do not reply to messages. 
2. Never click on a link or attachment that is in a suspicious message, no matter how realistic it is;
3. Not sure if it's really your child? Call them on their usual number to verify that they are the source of the message. 
4. When it comes to parcels, a delivery company will always contact you with your name and parcel number. To avoid falling into traps, we advise you to opt for your brand's tracking system: use their website, their application downloaded via an official store or the confirmation email you received when you purchased your product. Also, don't hesitate to contact the store directly to check the veracity of the message. 
5. Never send money without verifying the real identity of the person asking for it. Not sure? Ask her a personal question that only she knows the answer to.
6. Never pay a stranger with top-ups like Neosurf, PCS, Toneo, or Transcash. Banks usually refuse to reimburse you because the transaction is seen as voluntary. 
7. Never give out your personal information. You are advised to enable two-factor authentication on Whatsapp through the app's settings by going to "Privacy Verification" and "Strengthen Your Account Security" and then "Two-Step Verification", and limit the sharing of your public information on networks.
8. If you have passed on a password that you use for other accounts, change it immediately;
9. Feel free to send the scam messages to suspect@safeonweb.be;
10. If it is too late and you have fallen into the scammers' trap, notify your bank immediately, call Card Stop on 078 170 170 and file a complaint with the Local Police, keeping the message proving the scam. If you're concerned that malware has been installed on your device, run an anti-virus software and have it checked by a professional.