New phishing campaign via SMS blasting
Scammers are using 'SMS blasting' tech to connect to cell phones and send fake messages to unsuspecting New Zealanders.
What's happening
SMS blasting uses technology that essentially pretends to be a cell tower and tricks nearby mobile phones to connect to it.
The messages contain a link that leads to a fake website and mimic the four digit 'short codes' used by telcos, banks, and other organisations.
What this means
The technology connects your phone to a 2G network. If you receive an SMS and your phone is on 2G then it is a scam message. Look in the top right of your phone screen to check what type of network you are on.
If your phone or other mobile device connects to the scammer's network, you will likely receive the fake SMS messages. As they mimic short codes, the fake messages will show up with other messages you may have received from your bank or telco.
What to do
Don’t click the link – if you receive a SMS message containing a link, do not click it. New Zealand banks will generally not send you a link in an SMS message.
Report the message by forwarding, free of charge, to 7726 – this is a service run by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and is used to help track down the scammers and block the scam sites.
If you have supplied details after clicking the link – contact your bank immediately.
More information
Banks, telcos and government are working together on this issue to ensure the impact of this scam is minimised.
If you think you may have been caught up in one of these attacks and you have entered financial information, contact your bank immediately using their official phone number or website.
If you require more information or further support, submit a report on our website or contact us on 0800 CERTNZ.