New spam text messages target smartphone users

With smartphones bridging the gap between text or short message service (SMS) and web surfing, fraudsters are cooking up a new threat that combines both platforms. Computer security firm Sophos reported the new fraud messages are sent to mobile phones as a text message, but contain a link to a survey scam. In a blog post, it said the SMS message seemingly comes from Apple Inc., and claims the recipient has won a prize in a contest. “Congratulations, Your entry into our contest last month made you a WINNER! Goto [LINK] to claim your prize! You have 24 hours to claim,” it quoted the text message as saying. But clicking on the link will take the user not to Apple’s website at apple.com, but to a website called textwon.cominstead. Sophos said Textwon’s WHOIS information showed it was a new domain registered only last May 4. “The actual contact information for who registered the domain is hidden behind by a domain privacy service, but the A-Record IP address of the domain is linked with others that are known to have hosted malware, scams, adware and fake anti-virus in the past," it said. "In short, this is clearly a link that should be avoided,” it added. Moreover, it said those who clicked on the link may be redirected to a number of different websites depending on where in the world they are based, including the perennial “Win a free iPad by filling in this survey” scams. “Frequently, such scams will dupe you into believing you have won a prize, and ask you to enter your cellphone number. If you’re not careful and don’t read the small print, you will find that you have accidentally authorized a premium rate service to sign you up as a subscriber - adding dollars each week to your phone bill,” it said. “Always take care about clicking on links sent to you out of the blue, even if they arrive on your mobile phone,” it added. — LBG, GMA News