We have received further reports of scams from our readers. This time, you are reporting to us about crafted messages coming from the number +48504338151, calling for payment of the electricity bill.
–
As in many previous SMS campaigns, criminals use PGE’s image to trick potential victims into clicking on a crafted link. The content of the message is supposed to arouse fear and anxiety about unpaid bills, and the threat of power disconnection is an additional “incentive” for criminals to take advantage of the fake website of quick payments.
–
In fact, the message does not come from PGE, but rather the service enabling payment of receivables is a website used by criminals to obtain login details for electronic banking. Fraudulent messages are practically impossible to avoid – fraudsters often change the numbers used for the campaign, so blocking them is only a temporary possibility to cut off this type of SMS.
–
Readers often ask us in their reports about top-down protection of consumers against phishing. This kind of idea has been given by the government yet in February this yearwhen it was reported that The President of UKE and representatives of the largest telecommunications operators began joint work on the preparation of technical and legal solutionsthat will protect Poles from frauds. Since the announcement of the idea, however, we have not heard any new reports on this topic.
–
–
In the case of real news from PGE, the company informs that in correspondence reminding customers of overdue payments with the intention to suspend electricity supplies the customer number is always givenas well as a specific invoice with the payment date and the amount to be paid. Therefore, the consumer will not receive a message with a direct link to the payment systems – he has to log in to the bank himself and make the transfer.
–
Karolina Kowasz, a journalist at dobreprogramy.pl
—
