UK consumers are being warned about a new WhatsApp scam involving fake missed delivery messages from a company called 'Cleaning Superstore', which is based in the United Arab Emirates. Cyber criminals are sending SMS messages that appear to come from a verified business account, tricking recipients into clicking on malicious links.
The scam messages read: 'PRCL/GB Sorry we missed you today! Our delivery driver, John attempted to reach you but failed to do so. Visit [phishing link] to redeliver.' The links lead to fake delivery-tracking apps that, once installed, install malware capable of stealing banking details, passwords, and other sensitive information.
Lisa Webb, a lawyer at consumer group Which?, said: 'Because the messages appear to come from a verified legitimate business account, recipients are probably going to be more likely to trust the message than one that is not verified or just from a random number.' The malware also attempts to access the victim's contact list and spread the scam further.
Webb advises monitoring accounts for suspicious activity and reporting any incidents to banks. 'Banks can put a mark against your account so that suspicious activity is flagged,' she said. 'But this scam is designed to harvest personal and financial information. So that means that you are at greater risk of future fraud, even if no immediate money is lost.'
Consumers are urged to avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages and instead use official delivery company websites to track parcels.
