Brian Krebs, who writes about infosecurity, reports on all those bogus text messages claiming you owe some small amount on your account and you'd better log in and pay up - and, of course, supply all your credit-card info - or else.
I replied [to people inquiring on LinkedIn] that it was probably our friend Chenlun from mainland China, who's been selling phishing kits targeting postal services in dozens of countries, as well as toll providers in specific countries and US states.
Turns out I was right: The Chenlun SMS phishing group recently updated their Telegram sales channel with a new module that tells people they will be fined if they don't pay an outstanding toll charge.
Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!
Ad:
Comments
I'm usually not a violent person
By u-hub-fan
Tue, 01/14/2025 - 6:02pm
but these people need to be punched repeatedly until they stop.
I have a different fantasy.
By Lee
Tue, 01/14/2025 - 8:13pm
Anyone sending me an unwanted text or spam calling needs to be strapped in a chair à la Clockwork Orange and be made to stare at their screen while endless scam texts flash brightly in their eyes or made to listen to endless spam voicemails and ring tones.
Am I alone here?
By cybah
Tue, 01/14/2025 - 6:43pm
Am I alone in thinking that all this security stuff just makes me want to just get off line permanently, ditch my smart phone and go back to a landline.
Here me out with this analogy..
You buy a house in a bad neighborhood.
At first it doesn't seem so bad so you just make sure your windows and doors are locked before you leave
But before you know it, you're putting an alarm system in because a break in happened down the street.
Next up.. cameras because your car got broken into one night
Then maybe bars on the windows
Or an attack dog
Or maybe even electrified fencing around your property to keep people out.
At what point are you going to just say "Enough" and just move?
That house is the internet. And we are the owners.. at what point are we going say enough and not bother because the internet was made unusable? We're getting pretty close to that point now.. between tracking, spam, hackers, scammers, cookies, AI, and on and on and on.. its becoming not usable.
I don't think the argument of "well convenience is why it will stay" is even valid. Use my analogy about the house as the answer... "yep my house in a bad neighborhood is close to work so its convienent" will only work for so long before you just get tired of it and forgo convenience over your sanity.
Just remember folks, the convenience factor of the internet only happened because the market dictated so, companies filed suit. You start using postal mail and call centers again, and companies will quickly reverse their course. It takes a village tho.
/rant
But in your fortress house
By Plen-T-Pak
Wed, 01/15/2025 - 10:19pm
There's a room in the basement where you sit and curse yourself for compulsively masturbating. That's my analogy for the 99% of dumb, mindless stuff I do on my phone instead of other more useful things, like making bread, or horse head book ends for all my books.
Unlikely
By ScottB
Thu, 01/16/2025 - 1:45pm
Because there's too much money involved. Big businesses save money by not having to send you things by postal mail and down the line the call centers will be "staffed" by AI agents with no functionality beyond adherence to the programmed business rules -- although maybe they'll hallucinate a refund for you.
There's way too much money in targeted ads and using psychological tactics to prompt people to spend/borrow money which they probably shouldn't. Government will be happy to go along because private surveillance isn't blocked by the Constitution.
You can personally disconnect but you'll have to pay extra for it, either financially (higher prices/fees) or with your time.
imessage
By Kokernutz
Tue, 01/14/2025 - 7:04pm
many of the ones I've received over the last couple weeks have all been delivered via iMessage. i wonder if apple is involved as it clearly violates their t&cs.
Apple may at any time, under certain circumstances and without prior notice, immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Account and/or access to the Service. Cause for such termination shall include: (a) violations of this Agreement or any other policies or guidelines that are referenced herein and/or posted on the Service; (b) a request by you to cancel or terminate your Account; (c) a request and/or order from law enforcement, a judicial body, or other government agency; (d) where provision of the Service to you is or may become unlawful; (e) unexpected technical or security issues or problems; (f) your participation in fraudulent or illegal activities; [...]
https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/iclo...
Unlikely
By BostonDog
Tue, 01/14/2025 - 7:15pm
I got one of the scam txts on my android phone that has no connection to Apple products.
There are technical solutions to prevent or decrease these sorts of scams but the telecom firms and the US government don't care. Verizon gets their money regardless.
The courts, congress, and the incoming president do everything they can to cripple the agencies which might be in a position to protect consumers. (And use their inability to be effective as grounds to cripple them further.)
Everything is horrible and getting worse.
Add comment