Spain package disinfection payment message ‘phishing’ identify theft scam

AS online shopping surges under the coronavirus lockdown, a new identity theft scam has appeared to con consumers concerned about a risk of infection.

The ODIC Canary Island cybercrime observatory has identified a ‘phishing’ attack in which a text message or email appearing to be from a delivery service asks for a €1.40 payment to disinfect a package.

There is in fact no such package, but the communications look authentic enough. They instruct the victim to click on a link to a website and act immediately or they could face some kind of financial or legal penalty.

Again, the web page looks like a genuine site. But if the victim falls into the trap and registers their personal details, the cybercriminals use the information to steal identities, sell it to third parties or for other fraudulent actions, the cybercrime observatory warns.

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Written by

Cathy Elelman

Cathy Elelman is the local writer for the Costa de Almeria edition of the Euro Weekly News.

Based in Mojacar for the last 21 years, Cathy is very much part of the local community and is always well and truly up on all the latest news and events going on in this region of Spain.

Her top goals are to do the best job she can informing the local English-speaking community, visitors to the area and the wider world about about the news in Almeria, to learn something new every day, and to embrace very new challenge this fast-changing world brings her way.

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