'Don't lose your 12,739 points!' The text scams cashing in on bogus rewards

Warning: Don't Fall for Fake Rewards Schemes That Can Drain Your Bank Account

Scammers are using fake text messages to lure victims into cashing in on bogus rewards schemes that can drain their bank accounts. The scammers claim to be from reputable mobile providers such as EE and Vodafone, but the "rewards" they offer are nothing more than a ruse.

The scammers will send you a text message informing you of your non-existent rewards program and how much money you've earned in points. They'll tell you that if you don't act fast, those points will expire in just three days. The messages might look legitimate, but they're designed to create a sense of urgency and panic.

When you click on the link provided, you'll be taken to a site that appears to be from your mobile provider, complete with their logo and a list of prizes you can redeem with your points. However, what's not immediately apparent is that this site is actually a phishing scam designed to steal your sensitive information, including your bank details.

The scammers will ask for your bank details in exchange for the "prizes," and once you've entered the information, they'll vanish, leaving you with nothing but a blank page or a spinning icon. This is a classic tactic used by cybercriminals to extract as much money as possible from their victims.

What can you do if you receive one of these fake messages?

* Don't click on the link. It's better to be safe than sorry.
* Report the message as spam by highlighting it and pressing the "report spam" button on your mobile.
* You can also forward the message to 7726 for free, which will help authorities track down the scammers.
* If you did supply your personal details online, immediately contact your bank and report the incident to Action Fraud.

Remember, if a rewards program seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious of messages that create a sense of urgency or ask you to provide sensitive information in exchange for prizes. Keep your wits about you, and never fall victim to these fake rewards schemes again.

Ugh, can't believe people still fall for this . These scammers are just preying on our greed and lack of tech savvy . I mean, come on, if a "reward" seems too good to be true, it probably is! The fact that they're using fake text messages from reputable mobile providers makes it even more believable . It's like they're using social engineering tactics to trick us into giving them our sensitive info .

I get why people would click on the link out of curiosity or excitement , but trust me, it's just not worth it. These scammers will drain your bank account in no time . If you receive one of these fake messages, just report it as spam and block the number . Don't engage with them or click on anything that seems suspicious .

It's time for us to wake up and be more cautious online . We need to educate ourselves about these types of scams and protect our personal info . Let's not let these scammers get away with our money . Stay safe, folks!

OMG u guys! Did u know dat over 1 million ppl r scammed every year by fake rewards schemes?! In 2022 alone, the UK lost over £140M to cybercrime The scammers r getting cleverer by da day, but we can stay one step ahead if we educate ourselves! Here's a chart of the top countries dat got scammed in 2023:

England: £34.6M
Scotland: £14.8M
Wales: £5.4M
Northern Ireland: £2.1M
USA: $23.9M

So, what can u do if u receive a fake rewards message? Don't click on da link! Report it as spam & forward it to 7726! Stay safe online, guys!

omg u gotta be so careful with those text msg scams they sound legit at 1st but really its just a way to drain ur bank account i mean wut if its from EE or Vodafone? they cant just make up fake rewards schemes right? anyway, dont click on the link no matter wot and report it as spam straight away u can also forward it 2 7726 so the authorities can catch them red handed if ur bank gets hit too, dont panic and contact them ASAP just keep calm and be smart about it

omg u guys dont fall 4 this scammers r so sneaky they send fake msgs 2 ur phone sayin u got winnings 2 " redeem" but its all a scam dont click on any links or supply ur bank info just report it as spam & forward it 2 7726 keep ur money safe

omg can u believe ppl r still gettin scammed like dis? it's so easy 2 spot fake msgs but i guess some people dont take time 2 think twice. anyway, if u receive a msg like dis, just dont bother clickin on the link n report it as spam ASAP! and if u already gave away ur info, contact yer bank n report the incident. dont waste ur time tryna recover what's lost

I mean, come on... can't scammers just come up with new scams already? They're always finding ways to trick people into giving away their personal info. Like, why do we even need a report spam button on our phones anymore? It's not like it's going to stop the scammers or anything. But I guess it's better than nothing...

And seriously, what's with the "three-day warning" tactic? Can't they just give people a heads up that something's fishy about their rewards program? Do they really need to create a sense of panic to get us to act fast? It's just so predictable.

I'm so fed up with these scammers trying to take advantage of people's greed . It's just ridiculous that they think we'll fall for some fake text message telling us we've got "free" rewards points . Newsflash: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is! And what really gets me is how easily you can get duped into giving them your bank details . It's like, come on, people! We're not kids anymore . Just take a sec to look at the URL and see if it matches our mobile provider's legit site . Don't let these scammers make you look like a fool . Keep those spam filters sharp and report those messages ASAP .

u guys gotta be so careful with those texts from ur phone providers ! i got one last month and almost fell for it lol. like how can they even come up with such convincing messages? "ur winnings" , who wouldn't wanna get free stuff? anyway, dont click on anything u dont know is legit , report the spam and just ignore it

omg i feel so bad for ppl who r getting scammed like this its such a shame cuz these fake rewards schemes can really drain ur bank account but at least theres hope lol we gotta stay vigilant and report any suspicious msgs ASAP if u get one of those texts just dont click on the link or supply ur details anywhere 2 b honest and hey at least theres a way 2 report it 2 authorities so lets all keep our eyes peeled & stay safe online

OMG, like, I'm so tired of these scammers already ! They're always finding new ways to trick people into giving away their info. I mean, who falls for this stuff? It's not that hard to spot a phishing scam, right? The whole "urging you to act fast" thing is just a way to make you feel anxious and less likely to question it. And the fact that they're using legit company logos is just lazy - can't they come up with something more original? Anyway, I'd say the best course of action is to not click on anything suspicious and report the message as spam ASAP. Don't give those scammers your precious info!

u guys gotta be careful when ur phone rings or texts. scammers are so sneaky they'll make it sound like its from ur fave mobile provider and offer u some sick "rewards" but really its just a trick to get ur info . dont fall for it lol. if u see any suspicious text or link, report it ASAP and dont click on it no matter what . just remember, if its too good 2 b true, its probably not

You know what's even crazier than getting scammed? How our politicians are always trying to "protect" us from scams while they're out there lining their own pockets! I mean, come on, can't we trust them to do the right thing? These fake rewards schemes might be a nuisance, but at least they're not as crooked as some of the deals our lawmakers are cooking up in Washington. And don't even get me started on how easy it is for these scammers to set up their phishing sites - just like how some politicians can set up their own personal empires with a little bit of "creative accounting". What's really going on here? Are we living in a society where the scammers are more savvy than our leaders?

omg u guys dont even believe me i got scammed last month like 3 times all bc of those "rewards" texts from EE and Vodafone i was so confused lol but then my bank called me and told me what happened they said i couldve lost thousands now im super cautious with my messages dont click on weird links even if its from ur fave mobile provider trust me dont let them drain ur account

OMG, like don't even get me started on these scammers! They're always trying to trick us into giving away our personal info. I mean, who falls for a "reward" scheme that sounds too good to be true? It's not like we haven't seen those before... Anyway, the main thing is, don't click on the link! Trust your instincts, and report it as spam or forward it to 7726. Your bank account won't thank you if you fall for one of these fake messages!

omg can't believe some ppl still get scammed like this those "rewards" are just a joke and now they're draining ppl's accounts lol what's the point of even trying tho? report spam is ur best friend don't wanna be that noob who fell for it

OMG, this is so not cool! I mean, come on scammers! Can't they just make up their own rewards programs instead of copying everyone else's? And those texts can be super convincing too... I know people who have fallen for these things and it's a total bummer. The thing is, those links are like malware factories - as soon as you click, they're after your sensitive info! Don't do it, don't even think about it! Keep those scammers at bay by reporting the messages ASAP and not giving them your deets. Be smart, be safe!