Aug 21, 02:18 PM

FTC and Binance Sound Global Alarm on SMS Phishing Wave

Regulators and technology companies on three continents are warning consumers about a wave of text-message fraud that impersonates household brands, exploits spelling mistakes in web links and dangles offers of easy money. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission said scammers are posing as Amazon, claiming recent purchases failed a quality inspection and directing shoppers to fake refund links designed to steal credentials. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, reported a similar tactic in which fraudsters text customers saying their accounts are “at risk” and then steer them to bogus support numbers. Mexico City’s Secretariat of Security issued an alert over a variant known as typo-squatting, where criminals register nearly identical URLs such as “Amaz0n.com” and embed them in delivery-status messages. Separately, the FTC and consumer advocates detailed WhatsApp campaigns offering remote jobs with instant payouts; once victims complete small tasks they are asked to deposit their own funds in order to unlock larger, fictitious earnings. Spanish newspaper El Economista cited a retiree who lost €2,000 after clicking a bank notification that turned out to be fraudulent, underscoring the financial stakes. Authorities urge users not to follow unsolicited links, to verify messages through official websites or apps, and to report suspicious texts to enforcement agencies or mobile carriers.

#United States #Federal Trade Commission #Amazon #Binance #Mexico City #Secretariat of Security #FTC #WhatsApp #Spanish #El Economista

Written with ChatGPT .

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