Thread for reporting SMS spam

[Cawtau]

Hello,

  I have been forwarding my spam email-to-SMS to @FidoStephen via PMs to help improve the spam filter for sms.fido.ca

  Recently, another community member also posted a similar spam SMS they received. Perhaps a thread dedicated to collecting examples of these types of SMS spam might also help improve the spam filter.

  Thoughts?

Cheers

[Cawtau]

Hello again,

  I understand it is not an email. That is why it was suggested to send the SMS spam you receive to the number 7726 (SPAM). Fido does not provide refunds in this manner. If a refund is necessary, they will simply credit your account. If you have closed your account, they will send the money via a cheque to the address they have on file. No legitimate institution -- bank, credit card, mobile provider, etc -- will ask you to provide information in such a manner.

Hope this helps

Cheers

[xjia]

I am already log into my bank account, but before they steal my money, I am already contact to the bank and change my password and other informations. But do you know the spam will create a virus in my phone? Should I factory reset my phone? Does it is necessary?

[Cawtau]

Hello again,

  I'm sorry you have been deceived by those texts. It's good that you contacted your bank and changed your passwords etc.

  You might also consider forwarding the text message to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Fowarding the information to Fido will help prevent others from receiving the same texts. Since you provided personal information, the Anti-Fraud centre may be able to provide the link to authorities to possibly track the scammers.

  You should also consider the advice here. It may seem like a hassle, but any preventative measures taken now are definitely better than trying to sort out stolen identities after the fact.

  I don't think anyone can say for sure whether that particular SPAM SMS contained a virus or other malware. Some nefarious SMS can indeed contain viruses or trojans, etc. Do you have any anti-virus or anti-malware apps installed on your device? If you feel more comfortable, you might consider performing a factory reset.

Hope this helps

Cheers

[wickie]

Yes @Cawtau ...  I too, went thought a scary "identity thieft" experience last year when my canadian SIN number was accessed and used to take money from my bank account, in a province I had not lived in in 10 years. Fortunately, the bank contacted me within a day ..and, certainly all my money (after it was taken from 5 different locations in Canada) was returned to my account. But, this was a huge learning curve for me!

[Cawtau]

---

@wickie wrote:

... I too, went thought a scary "identity thieft" experience last year when my canadian SIN number was accessed and used to take money from my bank account, in a province I had not lived in in 10 years. Fortunately, the bank contacted me within a day ..and, certainly all my money (after it was taken from 5 different locations in Canada) was returned to my account. But, this was a huge learning curve for me!

---

Hello Wickie,

  Glad to hear everything worked out in the end!

  We just need to remain diligent at all times... Spammers and scammers aren't likely to give up any time soon.

Cheers

[Albertlixw]

Here's how it goes: 

From: +1 418 490 2815

Notice from Fido Solutions inc. for the number: (250)-xxx-xxxx You have received a Transfer https://is.gd/gcYbuw your Account has been Overcharged

I accidentally clicked on this link, but I immediately realized it's very likely to be a spam and closed the page. 

[BarberryKay]

Thanks for sharing. I received this message too ... now deleted.

[Charsav73]

[Cawtau]

Hello Charsav73,

Welcome to the community!

Thanks for the information! That is most definitely a SPAM scam. You can copy and forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) for evaluation and hopefully added to the SPAM filter (see here).

Hope this helps

Cheers

[FidoClaudia]

Hey @Albertlixw,

Welcome to the Community!

I've moved your post on this existing thread since it deals with the same subject and you'll be able to find the steps to follow in this situation.

If you haven't entered any of your personal information, you should be safe

Hope this helps!

[xjia]

Thank you for your suggestions, I will try to use some anti-virus applications to check my phone.

[Kzehn2324]

Got this one today and have others that asked something different, but it's the first time they mentioned Fido Dollars when I believe Fido Dollars have been discontinued already.

The others have already been mentioned, such as saying my account was suspended or that I had a refund, etc.

[Scooby-Doo]

Good morning all 

/!\ ~Warning do not close click this!!

Report sent text to 7726

Stay safe!

[Marwong]

Called a missed call under this spam when phone was picked up it played music...be aware everyone! I immediate  up after 18 seconds, will there be a charge on my bill for this call?

[FidoAmanda]

Hey @Marwong,

If you placed a call to an international number, long distance charges would apply. 

[Scooby-Doo]

Hi @Marwong thanks for sharing your

International call spam.

You may want to block incoming call from that number for future so it wouldnt go to your voicemail either.

Cheers!

[Cawtau]

---

Scooby-Doo wrote:...

You may want to block incoming call from that number for future so it wouldnt go to your voicemail either...

---

Hello Scooby-Doo,

  Unfortunately, blocking a phone number from your phone will not prevent the call from going to voicemail. A blocked phone number will simply not ring on the phone and the call will just go directly to voicemail.

Hope this helps

Cheers

[ranger9c]

Hi, I received this last night, Funny it says Bell customer, never have been. Clicking the link, takes you to what looks like a real interac transfer site, but it then says it is for a Telus refund. (i once was on telus but it was  over 10 years ago) Searching the originating phone number it is a Toronto number.

[Cawtau]

Hello Ranger9c,

  Thanks for the information! Have you had a chance to also forward it to 7726 (SPAM) (see solution above)?

  Just out of curiosity, did you port your phone number from Telus? I think the spammers try to customise the SMS depending to which block of prefixes a particular phone number belongs. Certain prefix blocks are Fido; others Rogers, Bell, etc. However, with the popularity of porting numbers, those provider distinctions are not as clear. Targeting prefixes with customised SMS doesn't always work. But I guess for the spammers, it's all about the numbers. Only a fraction of their spammed SMS won't match up.

Cheers

[ranger9c]

Hi Cawtau,

I did forward it to 7726. I did in fact port the number from Telus over 10 years ago. Thanks for your reply. Cheers,

[ranger9c]

I was showing a friend what this looked like and when clicking on the link in the original post, this is what now appears. It's good to see that reporting this stuff, that things do happen.

Cheers!