Cyber scammers use a treacherous new trick to trap parents in Austria. In text or WhatsApp messages, they pose as their target’s son or daughter and pretend the emergency is a “broken cell phone”. Thousands of euros are then lured out of the victim for supposedly urgent bills. We pretended to talk to the scammers – and discovered an effective antidote.
Thursday evening, 9:47 PM The iPhone vibrates and a text message comes in: “Hello Mum/Dad, my old cell phone is broken. +4368110645308 is my new mobile number, can you text me whatsapp? That sounds like an emergency, the parents’ heart rate speeds up – just what the senders want. If the recipient thinks he should help his child, he’s doing good business.
We know it is a scam attempt. But why not chat with the scammers to better understand their scam? The next day we want to know via WhatsApp whether the boy has already sent his mobile phone across the Jordaan. The other bites…
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
