Most of us are used to receiving SMSes from our mobile service providers. They are often reminders of promotions, bills due, services and sometimes surveys.
Recently, some people have received SMSes - supposedly from their telecommunication service provider - with a link claiming that it leads to a page asking for their details in return for rewards.
Are these SMSes legitimate?
Verdict:
FALSE
According to Maxis, SMSes with links that lead to a page asking for personal information are fake and do not come from telecommunication companies.
“If the URL link appears suspicious, do not click on it. If you are doubtful of any SMS, do check our corporate website or contact our official channels,” Maxis wrote in a notice on its website.
Its “Beware of Scams” page explains that scammers often pose as real businesses like Maxis by using phishing emails, SMS, or WhatsApp.
At the same time, they are easy to spot because genuine businesses, organisations, and officials will never ask for your data unexpectedly through these channels.
It also advises users to always double-check a website's domain name before proceeding, look for the padlock symbol in the address bar to ensure a valid and secured connection and examine the site for poor spelling and low-quality images, as they are often a sign of a fake website and be suspicious if the site is offering deals that are too good to be true.
References
https://www.maxis.com.my/en/
