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The United Parcel Service (UPS) says fraudsters have been harvesting phone numbers and other information from its online shipment tracking tool in Canada to send highly targeted SMS phishing (a.k.a. “smishing”) messages that spoofed UPS and other top brands. The missives addressed recipients by name, included details about recent orders, and warned that those orders wouldn’t be shipped unless the customer paid an added delivery fee.
In a snail mail letter sent this month to Canadian customers, UPS Canada Ltd. said it is aware that some package recipients have received fraudulent text messages demanding payment before a package can be delivered, and that it has been working with partners in its delivery chain to try to understand how the fraud was occurring.
The recent letter from UPS about SMS phishers harvesting shipment details and phone numbers from its website.
“During that review, UPS discovered a method by which a person who searched for a particular package or misused a package look-up tool could obtain more information about the delivery, potentially including a recipient’s phone number,” the letter reads. “Because this information could be misused by third parties, including potentially in a smishing scheme, UPS has taken steps to limit access to that information.”
The written notice goes on to say UPS believes the data exposure “affected packages for a small group of shippers and some of their customers from February 1, 2022 to April 24, 2023.”
As early as April 2022, KrebsOnSecurity began receiving tips from Canadian readers who were puzzling over why they’d just received one of these SMS phishing messages that referenced information from a recent order they’d legitimately placed at an online retailer.
In March, 2023, a reader named Dylan from British Columbia wrote in to say he’d received one of these shipping fee scam messages not long after placing an order to buy gobs of building blocks directly from Lego.com. The message included his full name, phone number, and postal code, and urged him to click a link to mydeliveryfee-ups[.]info and pay a $1.55 delivery fee that was supposedly required to deliver his Legos.
“From searching the text of this phishing message, I can see that a lot of people have experienced this scam, which is more convincing because of the information the phishing text contains,” Dylan wrote. “It seems likely to me that UPS is leaking information somehow about upcoming deliveries.”
Josh is a reader who works for a company that ships products to Canada, and in early January 2023 he inquired whether there was any information about a breach at UPS Canada.
“We’ve seen many of our customers targeted with a fraudulent UPS text message scheme after placing an order,” Josh said. “A link is provided (often only after the customer responds to the text) which takes you to a captcha page, followed by a fraudulent payment collection page.”
Pivoting on the domain in the smishing message sent to Dylan shows the phishing domain shared an Internet host in Russia [91.215.85-166] with nearly two dozen other smishing related domains, including upsdelivery[.]info, legodelivery[.]info, adidascanadaltd[.]com, crocscanadafee[.]info, refw0234apple[.]info, vista-printcanada[.]info and telus-ca[.]info.
The inclusion of big-name brands in the domains of these UPS smishing campaigns suggests the perpetrators had the ability to focus their lookups on UPS customers who had recently ordered items from specific companies.
Attempts to visit these domains with a web browser failed, but loading them in a mobile device (or in my case, emulating a mobile device using a virtual machine and Developer Tools in Firefox) revealed the first stage of this smishing attack. As Josh mentioned, what first popped up was a CAPTCHA; after the visitor solved the CAPTCHA, they were taken through several more pages that requested the user’s full name, date of birth, credit card number, address, email and phone number.
A smishing website targeting Canadians who recently purchased from Adidas online. The site would only load in a mobile browser.
In April 2022, KrebsOnSecurity heard from Alex, the CEO of a technology company in Canada who asked to leave his last name out of this story. Alex reached out when he began receiving the smishing messages almost immediately after ordering two sets of Airpods directly from Apple’s website.
What puzzled Alex most was that he’d instructed Apple to send the Airpods as a gift to two different people, and less than 24 hours later the phone number he uses for his Apple account received two of the phishing messages, both of which contained salutations that included the names of the people for whom he’d bought Airpods.
“I’d put the recipient as different people on my team, but because it was my phone number on both orders I was the one getting the texts,” Alex explained. “That same day, I got text messages referring to me as two different people, neither of whom were me.”
Alex said he believes UPS Canada either doesn’t fully understand what happened yet, or it is being coy about what it knows. He said the wording of UPS’s response misleadingly suggests the smishing attacks were somehow the result of hackers randomly looking up package information via the company’s tracking website.
Alex said it’s likely that whoever is responsible figured out how to query the UPS Canada website for only pending orders from specific brands, perhaps by exploiting some type of application programming interface (API) that UPS Canada makes or made available to its biggest retail partners.
“It wasn’t like I put the order through [on Apple.ca] and some days or weeks later I got a targeted smishing attack,” he said. “It was more or less the same day. And it was as if [the phishers] were being notified the order existed.”
The letter to UPS Canada customers does not mention whether any other customers in North America were affected, and it remains unclear whether any UPS customers outside of Canada may have been targeted.
In a statement provided to KrebsOnSecurity, Sandy Springs, Ga. based UPS [NYSE:UPS] said the company has been working with partners in the delivery chain to understand how that fraud was being perpetrated, as well as with law enforcement and third-party experts to identify the cause of this scheme and to put a stop to it.
“Law enforcement has indicated that there has been an increase in smishing impacting a number of shippers and many different industries,” reads an email from Brian Hughes, director of financial and strategy communications at UPS.
“Out of an abundance of caution, UPS is sending privacy incident notification letters to individuals in Canada whose information may have been impacted,” Hughes said. “We encourage our customers and general consumers to learn about the ways they can stay protected against attempts like this by visiting the UPS Fight Fraud website.”
With the advent of technology and the widespread use of mobile phones, scam calls and texts have become increasingly common. These annoying and invasive attempts to trick you out of your personal information can be frightening and frustrating. They often come in the form of ‘vishing‘ and ‘smishing‘ attacks. But what exactly are these types of scams, and how can you protect yourself against them?
Vishing and smishing are two common methods used by scammers to steal personal information. Vishing, a combination of ‘voice’ and ‘phishing,’ typically involves a scammer calling you and pretending to be from a trusted organization, such as your bank. They may tell you that there has been unusual activity on your account and ask for your personal information to ‘resolve’ the issue.
Smishing, on the other hand, combines ‘SMS’ (text) and ‘phishing.’ In this type of scam, you may receive a text message stating that you have won a prize, or that there is a problem with your account. The message will instruct you to click on a link, which will then try and trick you into providing personal information.
The main strategy of scammers behind vishing and smishing attacks is volume. They send out calls and messages to a large number of phones, hoping that at least a few will fall for the scam. There are several ways these scammers can get bulk phone numbers for their attacks:
Data breaches are a common way for scammers to obtain phone numbers, along with names and email addresses. This information can give them everything they need to launch effective vishing and smishing attacks. While some breaches result in the loss of credit card or government ID numbers, others simply provide basic personal information that can be enough to make their scams seem legitimate.
Another method scammers use to get phone numbers is by purchasing lists from data brokers. These online entities collect and sell detailed information about millions of individuals, including their phone numbers. These lists can be bought for a few dollars with just a few clicks. The data brokers don’t care who they sell to, so even scammers can easily purchase these lists.
→ Dig Deeper: How Data Brokers Sell Your Identity
Scammers often scour social media platforms and online forums to gather personal information, including phone numbers. People sometimes inadvertently share their contact details or other personal information in public posts, comments, or private messages. Scammers exploit these details to build their contact lists.
Scammers may also access publicly available records and directories, such as online phone directories, business listings, or government databases. These sources can provide them with a substantial amount of phone numbers and associated information.
Some scammers use phishing emails or fraudulent online surveys to trick individuals into disclosing their personal information, which can include phone numbers. They may pose as legitimate organizations or institutions, enticing recipients to provide their contact information in the process.
You may have already seen smishing attacks without realizing what they were. Here are a few examples of common smishing scams:
One feature that these messages have in common is that they all include a link. These links often have unusual character strings and web addresses that do not match the supposed sender of the message. This is a clear indication that the message is a scam.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself against these types of scams. Here are a few tips:
Scammers have tools at their disposal that can tamper with caller ID, making it appear as though the call is coming from a trusted organization. Do not rely solely on caller ID to determine the legitimacy of a call or text.
→ Dig Deeper: Be on the Lookout for Scam Tech Support Calls
If you receive a call or text message that seems suspicious, do not provide any personal information. Instead, hang up or ignore the text and contact the organization directly to verify the request.
If you believe you have been the target of a vishing or smishing attack, document the incident and report it to the company it was supposedly from. Many organizations have dedicated fraud reporting tools for this purpose.
As a general rule, avoid clicking on links in text messages, especially if they look suspicious or you do not recognize the sender. If you have concerns, always contact the organization directly.
→ Dig Deeper: The Latest Mobile Scams & How To Stay Safe
There are a number of strategies that you can employ to combat these types of scams. One of the most effective ways is to install comprehensive online protection software like McAfee+ on your phone. This software offers features such as web protection that warns you of suspicious links in texts, search results, and websites you browse. If your personal information appears on the dark web, the software can alert you and provide guidance on how to proceed. It can also help you remove your personal information from data broker sites, reducing your exposure to data breaches and spam calls.
Another strategy is to educate yourself on the telltale signs of a scam call or text. For instance, scammers often use scare tactics or threats to manipulate you into giving up your personal information. If you receive a message that seems to play on your emotions or tries to rush you into action, it’s probably a scam. Legitimate businesses and organizations will not typically resort to such tactics. If in doubt, always contact the organization directly to verify the validity of the message.
Internet service providers and mobile carriers have a crucial role to play in combating vishing and smishing attacks. By implementing advanced security measures, they can help protect their customers from these types of scams. For example, many carriers now offer features such as scam call blocking and identification. These features can help you identify potentially fraudulent calls and texts and avoid falling victim to these scams.
ISPs and mobile carriers can also educate their customers about the risks of vishing and smishing. By providing clear, easy-to-understand information about these scams and how to avoid them, they can empower their customers to protect themselves. As these types of attacks become more sophisticated, the role of ISPs and mobile carriers in combating them will only become more important.
McAfee Pro Tip: Regardless of the nature of these unwelcome calls, there are proactive measures you can take to safeguard yourself and even prevent them from reaching you in the initial instance. Know how to beat and block robocalls.
In conclusion, vishing and smishing are increasingly common types of scams that target individuals through phone calls and text messages. These scams can be frightening and invasive, but by understanding how they work and implementing strategies to protect yourself, you can significantly reduce your risk of being a victim. Comprehensive online protection software, being vigilant to the signs of a scam, and leveraging features offered by your ISP or mobile carrier are all effective ways to combat these scams. Remember, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t – always contact the organization directly if you’re unsure about a call or text.
The post Those Annoying Scam Calls and Texts: How to Fight Back Against Vishing and Smishing appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Smishing and vishing are scams where criminals attempt to get users to click a fraudulent link through a phone text message, email, or voicemail. These scams are becoming increasingly popular as cybercriminals try to take advantage of people who are more likely to fall for them, such as those who aren’t as familiar with technology or who may be experiencing a crisis.
Be aware that cybercrime and hacking can happen to anyone. Criminals are always looking for new ways to exploit people, and they know that others may not be cautious or recognize the warning signs of phishing scams when using the internet. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the different types of cybercrime and how to protect yourself.
This article discusses how to protect yourself from smishing attempts and scams where criminals try to get you to click on a fraudulent link or respond to their voicemail message to steal your personal data.
Most people are familiar with phishing scams, where scammers try to trick you into giving them your personal or financial information by pretending to be a legitimate company or organization. But have you ever heard of smishing or vishing?
Smishing is a type of phishing scam where attackers send SMS messages (or text messages) to trick victims into sharing personal information or installing malware on their devices. Vishing is almost identical to smishing, except cybercriminals use VoIP (Voice over IP) to place phone calls to trick victims instead of SMS (short message service) messages.
Smishing messages often appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a well-known company or government agency. It may even include urgent language or threats in an effort to get victims to act quickly. In some cases, the message may also include a link that directs victims to a fake website where they are prompted to enter personal information or download malware.
Here are some examples of smishing text messages hackers use to steal your personal details:
If you fall for a smishing scam, you could end up giving away your personal information or money. Cybercriminals use smishing messages to get personal and financial information, like your credit card number or access to your financial services.
For example, one type of smishing scam is when you get a text message that looks like it’s from your bank. The message might say there’s been suspicious activity on your account and that you need to click on a link to verify your identity. If you do click on the link, you’ll be taken to a fake website where you’ll be asked to enter your banking information. Once the scammers have your login information, they have access to clean out your account.
Smishing scams can be very difficult to spot, but there are some telltale signs to look for and steps to take to protect yourself.
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from smishing scams is to be able to recognize the signs of a smishing text message. Here are some tips:
While you can’t avoid smishing attacks altogether, you can block spam text messages you receive on your mobile phone. iPhone and Android have cybersecurity tools like spam filters and phone number blocking to help protect you from phishing attacks and malicious links.
To set up spam filters on your iPhone:
To set up spam filters on your Android mobile device:
McAfee Mobile Security is a mobile security app that helps protect your phone from malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats. McAfee Mobile Security is available for Android and iOS cell phones.
One of the benefits of using McAfee Mobile Security is that it can help detect and block smishing attacks. With identity monitoring, McAfee Mobile Security monitors your sensitive information like email accounts, credit card numbers, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and more to protect against identity theft. They notify you if they find any security breaches.
Other benefits include:
These days, our lives are more intertwined with our mobile devices than ever. We use them to stay connected with our loved ones on social media, conduct our business, and even access our most personal, sensitive data. It’s no surprise that mobile cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important.
McAfee Mobile Security is a comprehensive security solution that helps protect your device from viruses, malware, and other online threats. It also offers a variety of other features, like a secure VPN to protect your credit card numbers and other personal data.
Whether you’re browsing your favorite website, keeping up with friends on social media, or shopping online at Amazon, McAfee Mobile Security provides the peace of mind that comes from knowing your mobile device is safe and secure.
So why wait? Don‘t let the smishers win. Get started today with McAfee Mobile Security and rest easy knowing your mobile device and sensitive information are protected.
The post What Is Smishing and Vishing, and How Do You Protect Yourself? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Your phone buzzes. You hope it’s a reply from last night’s date, but instead you get an entirely different swooping feeling: It’s an alarming SMS text alerting you about suspicious activity on your bank account and that immediate action is necessary.
Take a deep breath and make sure to read the message carefully. Luckily, your assets could be completely safe. It could just be a smisher.
Smishing, or phishing over SMS, is a tactic where cybercriminals impersonate reputable organizations or people and trick people into handing over their personally identifiable information (PII) or financial details. Sometimes they can seem very credible with the information they have, and you may have even been expecting a correspondence of a similar nature.
So how can you tell when an SMS text is real and requires your attention? And how should you deal with a smisher to keep your identity safe?
Like email phishing and social media phishing, SMS text phishing often tries to use a strong emotion – like fear, anger, guilt, or excitement – to get you to respond immediately and without thinking through the request completely. Vishing is another phishing tactic over the phone, though instead of a text, the scammer leaves voicemails.
In the case of one coordinated smishing attack, cybercriminals not only impersonated financial institutions but collected PII on their targets ahead of time. The criminals then used these personal details – like old addresses and Social Security Numbers – to convince people that they were legitimate bank employees.1 But since when does a bank try to prove itself to the customer? Usually, it’s the other way around, where they’ll ask you to confirm your identity. Be wary of anyone who texts or calls you and has your PII. If you’re ever suspicious of a caller or texter claiming they’re a financial official, contact your bank through verified channels (chat, email, or phone) you find on the bank’s website to make sure.
Scammers also keep up with current events and attempt to impersonate well-known companies that have a reason to reach out to their customers. This adds false legitimacy to their message. For example, in the summer of 2022, Rogers Communications, a Canadian telecommunications provider, experienced an extended loss of service and told customers they could expect a reimbursement. Smishers jumped on the opportunity and sent a barrage of fake texts requesting banking details in order to carry out the reimbursement.2 However, Rogers credited customers directly to their Rogers accounts.
If you receive a suspicious text, go through these three steps to determine if you should follow up with the organization in question or simply delete and report the text.
Do you have text alerts enabled for your bank and utility accounts? If not, disregard any text claiming to be from those organizations. Companies will only contact you through the channels you have approved. Also, in the case of the Rogers smishing scheme, be aware of how a company plans to follow up with customers regarding reimbursements. You can find information like this on their official website and verified social channels.
ChatGPT might make it more difficult than spot smishing attempts because AI content generation tools usually use correct grammar and spelling. However, the tone is a good indicator of a scammer. If the tone of the text urges you to act quickly or proposes a dire consequence of ignoring the message, be on alert. While suspicious activity on your credit card is serious, your bank will likely reimburse you for charges you didn’t make, so you have time to check your bank account and see recent activities. Official correspondence from financial institutions will always be professional and will try to put you at ease, not make you panic.
Whenever you get a text from someone you don’t know, it’s a good practice to do an internet search for the number to see with whom it’s associated. If it’s a legitimate number, it should appear on the first page of the search results and direct to an official bank webpage.
Once you’ve identified a fake SMS alert, do not engage with it. Never click on any links in the message, as they can redirect you to risky sites or download malware to your device. Also, don’t reply to the text. A reply lets the criminal on the other end know that they reached a valid phone number, which may cause them to redouble their efforts. Finally, block the number and report it as spam.
A great absolute rule to always follow is to never give out your Social Security Number, banking information, usernames, or passwords over text.
To give you peace of mind in cases where you think a malicious actor has access to your PII, you can count on McAfee+. McAfee+ offers a comprehensive suite of identity and privacy protection services to help you feel more confident in your digital life.
1PC Mag, “Scammers Are Using Fake SMS Bank Fraud Alerts to Phish Victims, FBI Says”
2Daily Hive, “Rogers scam alert: Texts offering credit after outage are fake”
The post What Is Smishing? Here’s How to Spot Fake Texts and Keep Your Info Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.
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