The police are once again reminding the public that they do not contact citizens via text messages that include a link.
A large-scale scam message campaign is currently underway in Finland, according to the Central Finland Police Department. Criminals are sending messages, some of which falsely appear to be from the police.
The text message contains a scam link, which the recipient is asked to click.
"The police do not contact citizens via text message with a link," Sakari Tuominen, who heads cybercrime investigations at the Central Finland Police Department, said in the press release.
The police emphasised that people should delete any messages that appear to be scams.
Messages sent by the police or other authorities do not contain links. They also don't instruct or urge the recipient to take immediate action.
Spotting scam messages these days is not always easy, as you cannot rely solely on the sender's name. Messages should include multiple features that indicate authenticity, according to the police.
It's easy to be deceived by modern scams, according to Tuominen, who said they are often quite sophisticated.
There are, however, ways to avoid getting caught up in a scam, including:
- Don't log into your online bank through a link sent in a text message, as the link may lead to a fake website that looks legitimate.
- Never share your online banking credentials. A legitimate authority will not ask for your credentials, as they can access your information without requiring any action from you.
- When logging into services other than your bank, a mobile certificate is the most secure method.
- If you suspect the identity of someone claiming to be an official, ask them to repeat their name. Then, call the official's main switchboard and ask to be connected to that person.
- If you do fall victim to a scam, contact your bank immediately and file a police report about the incident.
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