Spam/fishing text message

[Oceanic16]

I was hit by a fishing scam in a FIDO text message. CSR acknowledges that this is common. It is obvious that FIDO/Rogers database has been hacked and they need to go public and resolve this issue or a Class action lawsuit to follow.

[Hunnyboxer]

How do I get a hold of someone at Fido to report a scam? I spent 30 minutes just trying to get a human!

[FidoKenny]

Hello @Hunnyboxer 

I'm sorry to learn you couldn't find anyone yet.

It will be necessary to contact our team. You can find all the ways to reach us here.

[Hunnyboxer]

I was just sent a text * FIDO MESSAGE*, reimbursement of $56.12 has been made rectify billing error. see: bit.ly/3V8Pkqy

[Cawtau]

Hello Hunnyboxer,

  Welcome to the community!

  That does indeed sound like SPAM! Thanks for flagging it! As mentioned here, you can also forward these messages to 7726 (SPAM). Once audited, it will be used to augment the SPAM filter (see here). Unfortunately, as fast as these messages get blocked by the SPAM filter, the spammers/scammers find new ways to bypass the filter.

  I understand forwarding those messages does not include phone number. However, it is unlikely the owner of the phone number is sending the messages. The scammers/spammers often use spoofed phone numbers when sending those messages and making SCAM and/or SPAM calls (see here).

Hope this helps 😀

Cheers

[Cawtau · Accepted solution]

Hello Oceanic16,

  Was the SMS directed a you (ie know your name, etc) or did it seem generic? If it was a Phishing scam, it's unlikely the spammers/scammers hacked any databases.

  I understand the text message might have been directed at Fido customers. However, it's actually rather easy to target a specific group of customers. All phone numbers -- whether landline or mobile -- are in databases which are readily available online. Certain prefixes are designated as landlines, others as Rogers, Fido, Bell, etc (see here). All someone needs to do is pick an area code and prefix and let a computer sequentially send those numbers from 0000 to 9999 text messages and all of those customers would be with the desired targeted provider.

  There have even been cases where former customers, who have ported out their numbers to other providers, have received SPAM SMS targeted at their previous providers. Since those online phone number databases are not updated with ported number information, that's evidence that actual provider database information has not been hacked.

**edit** You can also forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). This will submit the messages to be audited and potentially blocked from the network if confirmed to be spam (see here).**

Hope this helps 😀

Cheers