EE issues urgent warning to all users: You need to be on high alert TODAY
The busiest shopping day of the year also represents the biggest opportunity for scammers trying to steal personal information and credit card details
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If you're an EE customer, you need to be on red alert today.
The popular mobile network has warned that today is the worst day for scams, as millions of cyber crooks attempt one final roll of the dice before Christmas to defraud users.
Why today? EE network data analysis revealed that December 23 was the single biggest day for criminal activity with 3 million scam text messages sent within 24 hours. That was the highest number of any day last year, the company confirmed.
With a total of 45 million scam texts blocked by EE so far in 2023, security experts believe another 5 million bogus SMS messages will be sent to users in the UK this December.
The date, dubbed Super Saturday, is widely considered to be the busiest day in retail of the year as last-minute Christmas shoppers rush to buy gifts and couriers attempt to deliver online orders. All of this activity creates the perfect storm for scammers.
EE has warned millions of customers to be on alert for a flood of fraudulent texts. Some of the most common scams are designed to look like genuine updates from a delivery company, prompting you to enter personal information or payment details into a website controlled by the hackers.
Other attacks look like the confirmation of an order for an extortionately priced item, designed to trigger panic and push you to try and rectify the situation by entering your account details.
EE introduced new AI-powered technologies in an attempt to block the millions of scam text messages, but crooks still find ways to circumnavigate the blocks
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"With deliveries piling up on the doorstep, scammers will be looking for ways to take advantage of the festive frenzy," said Jonny Bunt, EE Director of Regulatory Affairs. "As one of the UK’s first lines of defence against SMS scam texts, we have a clear sight of the threat level here at BT and EE and are already seeing a concerning spike in delivery scams in particular."
EE introduced a slew of new protections in September designed to help combat scams. The network, which will become the first UK carrier to shutter 3G in the coming weeks, has turned to AI in an attempt to reinforce its defences. It also added the ability to block SMS messages from international numbers, SMS blocking trusted routes, and Enhanced Call Protection.
“It has been a busy year for fraudulent texts, we blocked over 45 million before they reached our customers, but the battle is never won, and some will always make it through," EE's Jonny Bunt continued.
"Our investments in AI are helping hugely, but we would be nothing without the vigilance of our customers, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to take a couple of minutes to remind themselves of the signs, and to report suspicious texts for free to 7726."
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EE’s advice to stay safe from the scams —
- Never click on a URL from an unknown sender
- Make sure your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop PC is running the latest software
- Never hand over your bank details, passwords, or security codes on a site from a link
- If you receive an unexpected call from a bank or retailer, call back on a number you trust
- Forward all suspicious text messages to 7726 (free of charge) so these numbers can be blocked
- Use the 159 Stop Scam hotline for advice
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