How does this SCAM work?
Discussion
One for a curious mind .... I've just received this text message to my personal mobile 'phone.
How therefore does the scam work? Or is it that someone somewhere has recorded the fact that I followed the link therefore I will be plagued by more messages like this forevermore?
ETA: I've never been eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance (which I presume is what it is referring to) as I am way too young, and neither have I ever tried to claim it.
ScammyScammyScammyMessageSentFrom 07487 367228 said:
UK Government Living Allowance Office Last Time Reminder:
Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.
We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.
https://bit.ly/3YqvlPR?frV=tmouexe4kh
Thank you for your support to the UK Government.
The number it was sent from (07487 367228) is not one I recognise and the link is a bit.ly link, but if you follow it (I was brave enough to do so) it takes you straight to the relevant page of the .gov.uk website. Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.
We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.
https://bit.ly/3YqvlPR?frV=tmouexe4kh
Thank you for your support to the UK Government.
How therefore does the scam work? Or is it that someone somewhere has recorded the fact that I followed the link therefore I will be plagued by more messages like this forevermore?
ETA: I've never been eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance (which I presume is what it is referring to) as I am way too young, and neither have I ever tried to claim it.
Personally, I'd just forward it on to your phone provider's spam/phishing reporting system via 7726
There'll probably be some redirects from that link which gives the scammers info about you and your phone...and then you'll be called up by 'energy advisors' or such.
Of course the final redirect sends you to the official website so most would be none the wiser.
In the case of the link you provided it goes:
...and the WHOIS lookup for the non .gov address is...
https://www.whois.com/whois/livingexpensessw.top
There'll probably be some redirects from that link which gives the scammers info about you and your phone...and then you'll be called up by 'energy advisors' or such.
Of course the final redirect sends you to the official website so most would be none the wiser.
In the case of the link you provided it goes:
...and the WHOIS lookup for the non .gov address is...
https://www.whois.com/whois/livingexpensessw.top
Edited by mmm-five on Monday 14th October 15:01
2Btoo said:
One for a curious mind .... I've just received this text message to my personal mobile 'phone.
How therefore does the scam work? Or is it that someone somewhere has recorded the fact that I followed the link therefore I will be plagued by more messages like this forevermore?
ETA: I've never been eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance (which I presume is what it is referring to) as I am way too young, and neither have I ever tried to claim it.
I'd say so. By responding, you have confirmed that your number exists.ScammyScammyScammyMessageSentFrom 07487 367228 said:
UK Government Living Allowance Office Last Time Reminder:
Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.
We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.
https://bit.ly/3YqvlPR?frV=tmouexe4kh
Thank you for your support to the UK Government.
The number it was sent from (07487 367228) is not one I recognise and the link is a bit.ly link, but if you follow it (I was brave enough to do so) it takes you straight to the relevant page of the .gov.uk website. Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.
We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.
https://bit.ly/3YqvlPR?frV=tmouexe4kh
Thank you for your support to the UK Government.
How therefore does the scam work? Or is it that someone somewhere has recorded the fact that I followed the link therefore I will be plagued by more messages like this forevermore?
ETA: I've never been eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance (which I presume is what it is referring to) as I am way too young, and neither have I ever tried to claim it.
2Btoo said:
Thanks mmm-five. That it had a series of redirects is probably no surprise but how did you get them listed like that?
https://deref.linkThat is just one of many that offer this sort of service.
You can also use Bitly's own Link Checker to check where it goes without clicking it...
https://support.bitly.com/hc/en-us/p/link-checker
...and report it if it looks suspicious...
https://bitly.com/pages/trust/report-abuse
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