Israel Police Warn of Sophisticated SMS Scam Targeting Citizens
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
An international fraud network is targeting thousands of Israelis with deceptive SMS messages impersonating the National Traffic Police to steal personal and financial information. The scam uses psychological pressure and fake websites linked from the messages, with origins traced to India and Uruguay but part of a global cyber infrastructure from China. The National Cyber Directorate urges citizens to avoid clicking suspicious links and report any incidents to hotline 119.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Thousands of Israelis are targeted by an international SMS fraud network impersonating the National Traffic Police.
- Scammers aim to steal credit card details and personal information by creating fake urgency about unpaid traffic tickets.
- The fraudulent messages originate from phone numbers in India and Uruguay, using fake websites mimicking official Israeli government sites.
- This operation is linked to a global cyber infrastructure based in China, also targeting US and UK government services.
- The National Cyber Directorate advises against clicking suspicious links and recommends direct access to official government websites.
- Citizens are urged to report suspected fraud attempts to the National Cyber Directorate at hotline 119.
Israeli citizens are currently facing an unprecedented cyberattack and fraud campaign targeting thousands, according to a new study by cybersecurity firm ReasonLabs. An extensive international fraud network has been operating in Israel in recent weeks, sending deceptive SMS messages that impersonate the National Traffic Police. The goal of these scams is to steal credit card details and sensitive personal information from unsuspecting consumers.
The fraudsters employ psychological pressure, informing recipients they have an unpaid traffic ticket and face immediate transfer to traffic court if the debt isn't settled within 24 hours. The messages include a direct link that leads to a fake website, meticulously copied from the official Israeli government site gov.il.
Cyber investigators discovered that three websites used for this fraud in Israel were registered and activated on September 1st. Many of the deceptive messages originated from phone numbers in countries like India and Uruguay, despite attempts to appear as an official Israeli law enforcement agency. The scammers successfully mislead many citizens by using official logos and familiar designs.
This operation is part of a global cyber infrastructure based in China, which also targets services in the United States, including toll services, the IRS, and USPS, as well as government entities in the UK and Canada. This broad network allows hackers to rapidly establish new fake websites whenever existing ones are blocked by authorities.
The National Cyber Directorate and ReasonLabs are warning the public not to rely on logos or the presence of 'gov' in website addresses. They strongly advise against clicking links in suspicious text messages and recommend accessing official government websites directly. Citizens who encounter such fraud attempts or fear their details have been compromised are urged to report them immediately to the National Cyber Directorate at hotline 119.
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