Scammers Impersonate Israeli Police in SMS Phishing Scheme
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
An international scam network is sending fake SMS messages to Israelis, impersonating the Israel Police and claiming recipients owe traffic fines. The messages direct users to phishing websites to steal credit card and personal data. The same infrastructure is used for similar scams targeting U.S. and UK government services. Israelis are advised to avoid suspicious links and visit official websites directly.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- International scammers are impersonating the Israel Police via SMS to steal credit card and personal data.
- Fake messages claim recipients owe unpaid traffic fines, threatening legal action within 24 hours.
- Scammers use fake websites that mimic the official Israeli government portal for fine payments.
- Some scam messages originated from phone numbers in India and Uruguay.
- The same infrastructure is used for fake websites targeting U.S. and UK government services.
- The National Cyber Directorate advises citizens to avoid suspicious links and use official websites.
An international fraud network has been sending SMS messages to Israelis, posing as the Israel Police, in an attempt to steal credit card details and personal information. The messages, reportedly from the traffic police, claim the recipient has an unpaid traffic violation fine and that legal action will be taken within 24 hours if it is not settled. The link provided in the messages directs users to a fake website designed to mimic the official government portal for paying fines, gov.il. Any credit card information entered on these fraudulent sites is sent directly to the scammers. Researchers have identified three such fake sites, all registered and launched on the same day in September. Some of the scam messages originated from phone numbers in India and Uruguay. According to ReasonLabs, the same infrastructure is used to create fake websites for services like E-ZPass toll roads, the U.S. IRS, USPS, and government entities in the UK and Canada. This operation is linked to a large-scale fraud network, with operations reportedly extending from China, which enables the rapid creation and replacement of fake websites after they are blocked. ReasonLabs warns that official logos, familiar designs, and even the inclusion of 'gov' in a web address do not guarantee a site's authenticity. The National Cyber Directorate advises citizens not to click on links in suspicious messages but to navigate directly to official agency websites. Reports of such fraudulent attempts can be made by calling 119.
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