Police have arrested eight people who allegedly sent “smishing” messages, aiming to steal personal and financial details, by directing recipients to fake versions of websites of trusted companies and organisations, such as Royal Mail.
The arrests were the result of police operations carried out in London, Coventry, Birmingham and Colchester. The arrested are suspected of committing fraud, according to the City of London Police.
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The eight suspects are believed to be involved in a smishing campaign, in which they sent "fraudulent" messages that appeared to come from Royal Mail. These messages said that the recipient needed to pay an outstanding postage fee for a parcel or enter their details to arrange a delivery.
The officers of the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), collaborated with Royal Mail and the telecommunications industry, as part of a «action week» during which the arrests were carried out.
Devices believed to have been used in this fraud campaign have been seized by police, while records of stolen financial information – which will allow banks to inform their customers that they have been scammed.
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Gary Robinson, head of the DCPCU, said: “The success of these operations shows how, through our close collaboration with Royal Mail, the financial services sector and mobile phone networks, we are pursuing criminals who ruthlessly target the public. Investigations are ongoing and we will continue to work together to bring those who commit smishing.”
Seven of the suspects arrested have been released under investigation, while one suspect has been charged and is being held in custody pending their court appearance. Enquiries are continuing and the City of London Police said further arrests and charges were likely to follow.
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These phishing messages usually contain a link that takes you to a fake version of a legitimate website that asks for usernames and passwords or even bank details. In recent months, there has been a sharp increase in SMS phishing attacks, especially with messages claiming to come from a delivery company, as many people shop online due to the COVID-19.
Information source: zdnet.com
