Telstra customers are being cautioned about a strange scam letter requesting their participation in a “sting operation” to catch hackers.
The letter, which purports to have the Telstra logo and has a phony envelope and phone number, informs recipients that hackers have been “identified in their network.”
The message then informs users that Telstra has deposited money into their bank account and that a ‘agent’ will be stopping by to collect it.
“BEWARE, con artists are using letters like this to convince people to withdraw money and hand it over in person to someone who will pick it up from your home,” Scamwatch, which is administered by Australia’s anti-fraud agency ACCC, stated.
This is a fraud. Warn your family, friends, and neighbors.
Telstra has also cautioned customers to examine any mail purporting to be from the telecommunications company for telltale signs of fraud.
“Check the spelling and grammar in the communications, as this is often a dead giveaway of a scam or a red flag that the communication is not from the legitimate provider,” a Telstra official advised Channel Seven.
Also, let’s be honest: Telstra does not conduct “secret missions”; they are not part of our operations paradigm.
“If you feel pressured on a call or in communications to share personal identification or banking or financial information, end the call and contact the organization at their official number,”
According to the conversations, we have deposited Australian dollars in your bank account.
According to experts, any letter containing these kind of spelling and punctuation errors should raise red flags.
The message then requests customer participation in their “sting”
The message states, “Now you simply have to hand over that Telstra-sponsored money to one of our Telstra agents, and our investigating officer Adam Wilson will provide you with the remaining information.”
“We are requesting your assistance in locating these hackers within the next twenty-four hours.”
As it is a covert mission to catch the hackers, the fraudsters advise the recipient not to reveal this information to anybody and to follow Telstra’s regulations.
The message, purportedly from the “Telstra technical department,” promises additional correspondence and requests that the recipient “cooperate with our technicians.”
According to estimates, Australians lost almost $2 billion to fraud in 2021.
Tips for avoiding fraud
Check for misspellings and grammatical errors in purported government or business communications.
Do not open strange emails, pop-up windows, links, or attachments; delete them.
Do not utilize the contact information supplied in an unwanted message without independently verifying it.
Hang up on computer-related phone calls requesting remote access, even if the caller mentions a well-known company such as Telstra.
Keep your personal details secure. Lock your mailbox and shred your bills and other sensitive documents before to discarding them.
Share as little personal information as possible on social media websites. Scammers can use your personal information and photographs to build a false identity or target you for a fraud.
Maintain the safety of your mobile devices and laptops. Always employ password protection, do not share access with others (especially remotely), keep your security software up to date, and back up your data.
Choose passwords that contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase characters, numbers, and symbols. Never use the same password for many accounts/profiles, and never share your passwords.
Review your social media privacy and security settings. Learn how to utilize privacy and security settings to guarantee your safety, and be mindful of who you interact with. If you recognize strange behavior, have clicked on spam, or have been duped online, safeguard your account and report the incident.
Never transmit money or provide credit card information, online account information, or copies of personal papers to a stranger.
Be aware of odd requests for payment. Scammers frequently request unique payment methods, such as prepaid debit cards, gift cards, iTunes cards, or virtual currencies like Bitcoin.
Be wary of deals that appear too good to be true, and use a reputable internet buying site.
Consider carefully before utilizing virtual currencies (such as Bitcoin) because they lack the same security as other transaction methods.
Reference source: Scamwatch
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