Criminals send WhatsApp messages in the name of SBB inviting them to take part in a competition. Scammers lure their victims into an expensive subscription trap. Anyone who reveals their data in the fake competition must expect further adversity.
The federal government's National Center for Cyber Security (NCSC) and the Zurich cantonal police are warning of a fraudulent fake SBB sweepstakes that has been spreading as a chain letter via WhatsApp for days. The message contains the link to a competition that will be held to mark the 120th anniversary of the Swiss Federal Railways. In fact, there are of course more rip-offs at work.
The IT security experts at the federal government warned last Friday that "numerous reports" are currently being received about this alleged SBB sweepstakes.
If you click on the link, you will be redirected to the fake competition.
Supposedly you can win 2000 francs if you answer just four questions about SBB.
Fake comments about the competition like the following are intended to feign seriousness: “I thought it was a joke, but it was delivered this morning. So surprised! @SBB CFF FFS is the best company I have ever met!»
Now you should register to get the prize. Anyone who does this unknowingly takes out a subscription for CHF 14.50 per week.
After participating, the scammers ask the participants to forward the link to 5 WhatsApp groups or 20 WhatsApp contacts.
Since apparently people are still falling for this scam, the fraudulent link and with it the subscription trap continue to spread unabated. The National Center for Cyber Security therefore advises: "Ignore this WhatsApp message and do not send it on."
Swiss consumer protection and OFCOM provide tips on how to behave if you have already fallen into the subscription trap and receive a payment request.
In addition to the subscription trap, other dangers lurk
Such fake sweepstakes are particularly treacherous if you have to register with a password. If you also use this password for other accounts, such as e-mail or Facebook, you are handing the scammers the key to your privacy – unless two-factor authentication is activated.
"Anyone who has fallen for the scam should therefore change the passwords of all those accounts in which they used the same password as to register in this subscription trap," advises PCtipp.
Pro Tip! 😉
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