International Scam Network Poses as Israeli Police via SMS
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
An international fraud network is impersonating the Israel Police via SMS messages, tricking recipients into visiting fake payment websites to steal their financial data. The scam, linked to operations in China, uses sophisticated fake sites that mimic official government portals. Israeli authorities are urging the public to avoid clicking suspicious links and to report such attempts to the National Cyber Directorate.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Cybersecurity firm ReasonLabs uncovered an international scam impersonating the Israel Police via SMS.
- Scam messages falsely claim unpaid traffic tickets and threaten court action within 24 hours.
- Links lead to fake websites designed to steal credit card and personal information.
- The scam infrastructure is linked to operations in China and targets multiple countries.
- The National Cyber Directorate advises against clicking suspicious links and to report fraud attempts.
A sophisticated international fraud network is targeting Israelis with SMS messages impersonating the Israel Police, according to research by cybersecurity firm ReasonLabs. The messages falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten legal action if not settled within 24 hours. The links in these messages lead to fake websites designed to mimic the official government traffic ticket payment portal, aiming to steal credit card details and personal information.
ReasonLabs researchers identified three websites used in this scam, all registered and activated in September. These sites are part of a larger global infrastructure linked to operations in China, which also targets individuals in the United States and Europe by impersonating various government agencies and services, including toll services like E-ZPass, the IRS, and the USPS. The firm noted that the scam infrastructure allows for the rapid creation and replacement of fake websites after they are blocked.
The Israeli component of the scam involved messages sent from phone numbers originating in India and Uruguay, despite the impersonation of an Israeli authority. The fake websites were nearly identical to the official government payment service, even using the "gov" domain, highlighting the advanced nature of the deception. ReasonLabs emphasized that official logos or familiar designs do not guarantee a site's legitimacy.
The National Cyber Directorate advises the public not to click on links in suspicious messages. Instead, they recommend accessing official websites directly and reporting any suspected fraud attempts to the national hotline at 119. ReasonLabs also promotes its MOZO app, which it claims blocks millions of fraudulent attempts globally each month.
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