Fraudulent text messages: Fake Telegram messages are spreading in Austria
Currently, fraudulent text messages claiming to be sent from Telegram are spreading in Austria. These messages allege that the user's account is restricted or will be banned soon unless they click on a link to "reactivate" it. Some readers have confirmed that they received several similar messages, warning others not to fall victim to this increasing scam.
According to Watchlist Internet, these messages are a classic phishing attempt. Criminals spoof the sender's identity to make it appear as if the message is coming directly from Telegram. When the victim clicks on the link, they are redirected to a fake login page that asks for their phone number or even confirmation codes, giving the scammers full access to the account.
The consequences can be serious. Scammers can read private messages, photos, and contacts, and even use the account to impersonate the victim and send fraudulent financial requests. Experts confirm that these messages often use a scare tactic with phrases like "Your account will be blocked" to push recipients to interact quickly. Additionally, spelling and grammatical errors are a clear sign of fraud. Most importantly, Telegram never sends text messages asking for personal information via links.
Authorities urge anyone receiving such messages not to click on the link and to delete the message immediately. If data has already been entered, the victim should change their Telegram password immediately, warn their contacts, and report the incident to the police.
The Federal Criminal Police Office indicates a general increase in phishing attacks, not only through fake Telegram messages but also through messages claiming to be from banks, postal services, or even government offices. Their advice is clear: do not provide your personal data via email or text messages, do not click on suspicious links, pay attention to language errors, and do not execute any payment requests. In case of financial losses, you should contact the bank immediately and file an official report with the police.