Fraudsters are targeting mobile phone users with fake text messages claiming to offer rewards points from EE and Vodafone. The messages, sent via Rich Communication Services (RCS), urge recipients to click a link to redeem points before they expire. The link leads to a fraudulent site that asks for bank details to cover postage for prizes.
EE confirmed it first became aware of the scam two months ago, with 265,000 customers reporting the fake texts. The company does not operate a points-based rewards scheme. Vodafone, which runs the VeryMe Rewards programme, said it never refers to it as the 'Vodafone Rewards Club', the name used in some scam messages.
EE noted that RCS messages cannot be blocked in the same way as SMS, but it is working with Apple and Google to address the issue. Vodafone said its customers are largely unaffected because RCS is not enabled on iPhones on its network, though users on other networks may receive the texts.
The scam texts create urgency by stating that points will expire within days. One example reads: 'You currently hold 12,739, of which 12,000 points are scheduled to expire in 3 days.' Victims who click the link are taken to a site mimicking the provider's branding and asked to enter bank details to receive items such as massage chairs or vacuum cleaners.
EE advises customers to report scam texts by pressing 'report spam' or forwarding them to 7726 free of charge. Anyone who has provided personal details should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to Report Fraud.
