CCB AND BIPST WARN AGAINST TSUNAMI OF SMISHING MESSAGES AFTER FAKE TEXT MESSAGES SENT IN BPOST'S NAME: MORE THAN 9000 INFECTED CELL PHONES
A new tsunami of fake text (smishing) messages is on its way. The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPST) and the CCB fear that cell phone users will be inundated with dangerous text messages in the coming days. It all started last weekend with a suspicious text message that appeared to come from Bpost. Some 9,000 users have already clicked on the link on their cell phones and downloaded an application. Their device has been infected by a dangerous virus that causes extensive damage and spreads rapidly to the victim's phone contacts. The virus, FluBot, has caused considerable damage in other European countries in recent weeks and is now spreading to Belgian users.
The message this weekend was brief: "your package is on its way, follow it here", followed by a unique link. More than 5,700 attentive Internet users forwarded this message to the address suspicious@safeonweb.be Unfortunately, some 9000 less informed users clicked on the link and proceeded to install a malicious virus.
Urgent alert
- Be alert when you receive an unexpected message
If you have received this fake text message from Bpost, your phone number may be included in a list circulating on the Internet and used by cybercriminals. Chances are you will receive more smishing and phishing messages in the near future from other delivery companies. So be careful. Cybercriminals are often more active as a long weekend approaches.
- Do not click on links in a text message!
If you click on the link, you will be asked to download an application. Don't do it! Otherwise, you will install a virus that will gain access to your personal data, such as passwords, credit card information and your complete contact list.
- Never install applications via a link sent in a text message
Only install applications from a standard application store (Google Play, App Store). If, during the installation of an application, you get a message that prevents the installation or warns you about security problems, do not continue.
At least 9,000 users have already installed FluBot on their cell phones. What to do in that case?
- Immediately restore your cell phone to factory settings. Make sure you have a backup copy of your data.
- If you have still used passwords after the installation of the application, change them absolutely.
- A text message may have been sent to all your phone contacts on your behalf. Notify them as soon as possible.
More information: https://www.safeonweb.be/en/news/bpost-warns-about-fake-text-messages
FluBot is a known but dangerous virus that steals data and uses phone contact lists to spread. It is precisely for this reason that the number of victims is increasing exponentially in our country.