Bonn The scam appeared in mid-2022, after which more and more citizens contacted the authorities. In the SMS, a package is announced that is stuck in customs. According to the fraudulent SMS, which also contains a link, the shipment will only be forwarded once customs duties have been paid. If you click on it, you will be prompted to enter personal data on a website.
Better not open websites in the first place
The authority warns against opening the websites and disclosing data. In fact, it is not a real package, but data phishing – i.e. the illegal tapping of data, such as credit card information.
The Federal Network Agency has therefore already switched off more than 200 mobile phone numbers that had been used for the scam. However, the criminals are now increasingly using foreign phone numbers that cannot be capped by the Federal Network Agency. A spokesman for Deutsche Post DHL pointed out that the Bonn-based group never asked for personal data or payments via SMS.