Scam Texts on the Rise: February Sees a 73% Increase in Fraudulent SMS

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:06:51 +0530

It may be the shortest month of the year, but February certainly wasn’t short on scam texts flooding phones. From fake Total Tools, and PayPal impersonations to sneaky sale and liquidation scams, SMS scams increased by 70% compared to January. Discover which scams made the biggest impact, the most frequently used keywords, and how popular brands were impersonated.

Types of Scams

Fake Delivery Notification, Bank Account Threats, and Prize or Sweepstakes Scam continue to be the most common, consistently deceiving consumers with fraudulent offers. This type of scam remains popular among cyber criminals due to its effectiveness in luring unsuspecting victims. In total, these scams accounted for nearly half of all the fraudulent messages sent in February.

Red Flags to Watch Out for

Scammers used these words in their fraudulent activities across February: ‘Tracking Updates’, ‘Account Verification’ and ‘Refund’, accounting for a third of all scams.

Account Verification’ & ‘Refund’

The phrases ‘account verification’ and ‘refund’ are commonly used year-round but were especially common this month. Scammers often use these terms to create urgency and pressure individuals into clicking fraudulent links. If you receive an unsolicited SMS with these words, stay alert—it’s likely a scam. Delete it immediately.

Emotet and Paypal Impersonated

Major brands continue to be prime targets for scammers, with Emotet and PayPal amongst the most impersonated brands. Notably, Total Tools scam texts alone made up over 10% of all scam-related messages in February.

More on Emotet

In recent months, India has witnessed a rise in Emotet malware attacks delivered via SMS messages. These attacks typically involve fake text messages posing as alerts from banks, delivery services, or government agencies, tricking users into clicking malicious links. Once clicked, the Emotet malware is downloaded onto the device, where it can steal personal information, banking credentials, and even spread to contacts. Originally designed as a banking Trojan, Emotet has evolved into a major cyber threat capable of delivering ransomware and other malicious software. Authorities in India have warned users to stay cautious, avoid clicking suspicious links, and use updated security software to protect their devices.

Paypal Scam Back With a Twist

A newer version of the PayPal scam has surfaced, targeting users with fraudulent text messages that appear to come from PayPal’s official number, alerting them to fake Bitcoin transactions. The messages often direct users to call a fake support number, aiming to steal sensitive information like credit card details. Scammers can spoof legitimate PayPal numbers, making it hard for consumers to identify the fraud. To stay safe, avoid calling suspicious numbers or clicking on links in any messages. PayPal will never ask for sensitive information via text or phone.