Fraudsters send fake text messages in the name of Card Stop
7 January 2020 - 2 min Reading time
Worldline and Febelfin warn consumers never to share bank details via SMS, email, social media, etc.
In recent days, text messages have been circulating asking people to urgently block or unblock their bank card. Sender of service: Card Stop. But these are false messages that are not sent by Card Stop at all, but by fraudsters.
A link in the text message leads to a fake website where people have to provide their banking details. The result? A high risk of fraud and therefore often a plundered account.
The technique used by the fraudsters is a variant of phishing. Fraudsters are fishing for their victims' bank details. Their modus operandi: a message with a link to a - almost perfect - counterfeit website. They often send an e-mail, but more and more also social media messages or, in this case, text messages. There is even a specific name for phishing via text messages: smishing.
However, you can protect yourself against smishing in the same way as against phishing:
- Never give out your PIN or other bank codes via telephone, email, SMS or social media. A bank will never ask you this. Worldline, Card Stop's manager, will never do this either.
- Ignore messages that take you via a link to a (fake) payment site or a (counterfeit) app or site of your bank.
- Only make transfers in the bank's trusted app on your smartphone or via your bank's secure website.
Got scammed?
- Contact your bank.
- Inform Card Stop (www.cardstop.be or 078 170 170) if you have also provided card details.
- Change your codes.
- File a complaint with the police.
