Fake Prize Texts Drain Bank Details

Criminals are employing a new scam via text messages, falsely informing recipients they have accumulated numerous reward points that are set to expire imminently. These deceptive messages, purportedly from mobile carriers such as EE and Vodafone, create a sense of urgency by stating that a significant portion of points will be lost within three days. The texts encourage users to click a provided link to redeem these points for expensive items like massage chairs or high-end vacuum cleaners.

Upon clicking the link, users are directed to a spoofed website that mimics their mobile provider's branding. Here, they are presented with various prize options and instructed to pay a postage fee to receive their item. This is a ruse to obtain the victim's bank account details, which can then be exploited. EE has confirmed it does not operate such a points-for-rewards scheme and has received 265,000 reports of these scam texts. While Vodafone has a rewards scheme, the scammers misrepresent its name in some instances. EE is collaborating with tech giants to address the issue, as the messages are sent via RCS, a format they cannot block.