The number of text scams has risen sharply during the pandemic
James Bore is a cyber-security expert. His company website details his MSc from Northumbria University and his experience in IT support, development and engineering. But, despite all his expertise, in May this year, the 38-year-old almost fell foul of a cyber scam. He woke one morning to a buzzing on his mobile: it was a text from Royal Mail telling him that the company had been unable to deliver a package, and that he should click a link to pay £2.99. Only then would Royal Mail deliver his parcel.
Bore groggily considered this request, before popping downstairs to see if there was a card from Royal Mail on the mat. ‘I was seconds away from losing a considerable amount of money,’ he says. ‘If a tiny suspicion hadn’t made me get out of bed, I’d have acted on it. But that’s how these guys work – they rely on a time when you aren’t thinking critically.’
Teige Gallagher was sentenced at the Old Bailey A scammer has been jailed after he sent out text messages purporting to be from the NHS, banks and mobile phone providers. Teige Gallagher, 21, of Haringey, pleaded guilty to committing fraud by false representation and for being in possession of articles for use in fraud, following an investigation. Between October 1 last year and March 11, Gallagher sent fraudulent text messages claiming to be from a wide range of trusted organisations, including the NHS. The messages included a link to a fake webpage imitating official company websites, with the aim of tricking customers into giving away their personal and account details that could later be used to commit fraud.