In recent weeks, Bolsa Família beneficiaries have been targeted by a growing scam involving SMS messages with malicious links that install viruses and compromise personal data and passwords. In fact, the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS) itself issued a warning about these scams, which have been affecting families across Brazil.
In addition to the specific scam targeting Bolsa Família beneficiaries, the SMS channel has proven to be a preferred method for criminals. Recently, scammers have been using tactics such as the 'Correios SMS', false benefit offers, and scams related to card transactions, all aimed at extracting sensitive information and committing financial frauds.
Unlike email, which has anti-spam systems to filter malicious messages, SMS is a more open and vulnerable medium. "The protection offered by anti-spam email services helps to divert most fraudulent messages, but SMS is still a fertile ground for scammers. This is because many users do not exercise the same caution with text messages, believing they are safer," explains Alessandro Fontes, co-founder of Trusted Site, a free platform that helps consumers verify the reliability of websites.
Users tend to trust SMS messages because of the belief that only large companies have access to sendings through "shortcodes" – short numbers used for mass messaging. However, this access is now within the reach of criminals who use these tools to deceive victims. The use of shortcodes by scammers has become more common, making it easier to spread fraud.
Recently, several scams have been circulating via SMS, highlighting the growing threat of this channel. Among the most notorious are the fake benefit to receive scam, the "Correios SMS" scam, the bank points and miles scam, the fake card transaction scam, and even the fine for accessing X via VPN. These scams have in common the use of SMS to carry out "phishing" attacks.
The term "phishing" refers to fraud techniques in which scammers impersonate trusted entities to obtain sensitive data. In the case of SMS scams, criminals often use malicious links to install viruses or redirect users to fake websites.For that, check how to protect yourself:
1- Do not open any link received via SMS. The government or entities will not condition any benefit on an action taken through a link sent via SMS.
2- If you have any questions about accessing your bank account or receiving any benefits, contact the institutions directly through official channels.
3- Use link checking platforms, such aswww.siteconfiavel.com.br, which help you check suspicious links for free.
4- Attention to homographic URLs: these are links that appear to lead to real websites but are manipulated to look official and can be difficult to identify with the naked eye. If in doubt, avoid clicking on any suspicious links.
5- In addition to not clicking on links, never share information received via SMS, such as security codes or passwords. This can facilitate the invasion of your social networks or bank accounts.
“In an increasingly vulnerable digital environment, it is essential that users are aware of the risks associated with fraudulent SMS. Criminals are increasingly sophisticated and adapting their tactics to exploit people’s trust. Stay informed and always verify the authenticity of the messages you receive to protect your personal and financial information,” warns the expert.
