The State Police today issued a warning about the circulation of fraudulent messages sent to citizens in the name of banking institutions, with the sole aim of obtaining their data and, eventually, the money in their accounts.
Announcement from the State Police:
Beware of fraudulent SMS messages sent in the name of banking institutions! The State Police calls for the protection of personal and banking data.
The State Police, through its specialized structures for the Investigation of Cybercrime, warns citizens about the circulation of fraudulent text messages (SMS), sent in the name of various banking institutions, with the aim of stealing personal and banking data, as well as illegally appropriating funds from citizens’ accounts.
From the cases identified, it turns out that citizens are sent SMS messages from different phone numbers, in which the authors falsely present themselves as banking institutions, notifying them that they must complete identity verification within a short time limit, usually 24 or 31 hours.
These messages contain electronic links, which do not belong to the official websites of the banks, but aim to direct citizens to counterfeit websites, created to appropriate their data.
This form of cyber fraud, known as “Smishing”, aims to exploit citizens’ trust in banking institutions and the sense of urgency created by the deadlines set in the messages.
Through these websites, the authors aim to obtain sensitive data, such as bank card numbers, online banking passwords and verification codes. This data can then be used to gain unauthorized access to citizens’ bank accounts and carry out financial transactions, appropriating their funds.
The State Police urges all citizens to exercise maximum caution and follow these preventive measures:
-Do not click on electronic links contained in suspicious SMS messages, even if they may display the name of a well-known bank.
-Under no circumstances provide bank card details, passwords, PINs or verification codes on pages opened through these messages.
Do not be influenced by messages that set deadlines for identity verification or warn of the restriction of banking services.
-Verify any suspicious communication directly with your bank, through official communication channels.
-If you have entered your banking details on a suspicious link, contact the bank immediately to request the blocking of the card or of account access, and report the case to the Police.
The State Police clarifies that the use of a banking institution’s name in an SMS does not mean that the message was sent by the bank itself. Citizens must always verify the source of the communication and the electronic address before taking any action.
The Cybercrime Investigation structures continue their work to detect and investigate these criminal activities, identify the perpetrators and prevent financial harm to citizens.
The State Police invites all citizens who have received such messages or have fallen victim to these fraudulent schemes to report the cases to Police structures, keeping the messages, the phone numbers from which they were sent and the electronic links they contain.
Protecting banking data begins with the caution of each of us. Do not click on suspicious links and do not share your financial details!