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“New voicemail,” the text message says, for example, or “You have a missed call.” This is followed by a link to a website. Anyone who receives such messages should be wide awake and under no circumstances click on the link – this is a scam. Because the website behind the link is not a voice recording at all, but a request to install a new app.
The app can, for example, copy and steal data from the smartphone, send unnoticed SMS via the cell phone number or cause other damage. The scam is called smishing.
If you are not sure whether the SMS really comes from your provider, it is best to dial the mailbox number of your own provider directly. This is usually stored in the smartphone by default. Your own mobile provider also always sends its mailbox information from the same number – unlike the scammers, who constantly change it.
According to experts, the scam text messages should be deleted immediately. Any other reaction conveys to the scammers that the number is being actively used. In addition, the SMS sender’s phone number can be blocked. Google’s Messages app, for example, puts most of these SMS directly into the spam folder.
Anyone who has installed the malicious app should immediately switch their smartphone to flight mode. This will prevent the malware from sending any further data via the Internet. Evidence should then be collected, for example via screenshots. Alternatively, the device can be taken to the nearest police station.
To uninstall the app, the smartphone should be restarted in safe mode if possible. How this is done differs from device to device. It is best to research this via the manufacturer’s website. Once started, search the app list for recently installed, unknown apps and delete them. In the worst case, the only solution is to reset the device to the factory settings.
- source: k.at/picture: pixabay.com
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