Danger! New SMS fraud stitch threatens your bonus points!

Danger! New SMS fraud stitch threatens your bonus points!

Österreich - In Austria, there is currently a dangerous fraud stitch that spreads over SMS. These messages claim that loyalty or bonus points would soon expire. Affected people are led to external websites that appear as tempting service offers. Kosmo.at reports of the warning of the Federal Criminal Police Office, which has been determined that this has been active since the beginning of May 2025. Fraudsters are a trustworthy organizations.

The perpetrators deceptively use real websites to offer electronic devices and put the recipients under pressure to make quick decisions. As a result, you try to steal personal information such as credit card details. The financial damage reported since the beginning of this fraud mesh amounts to around 27,000 euros. According to the previous information, about 20 cases are registered, although the actual number of unreported cases is probably significantly higher.

How does the fraud work?

As part of these fraud stitches, SMS, emails or messages via messenger services are used. These communicate that the recipient allegedly could lose loyalty or bonus points. After contacting them, the fraudsters guide the victims to fake websites, where there are high -quality electrical appliances to choose from. There, users then have to enter their credit card details, which often leads to unauthorized debit. This procedure is reinforced by impersonal approach and the establishment of a time pressure to promote rushed actions, as the Federal Criminal Police Office here explains.

In order to protect itself from this fraud stitch, the Federal Criminal Police Office recommends not to click on unknown links and react critically to suspicious messages. Serious companies do not request sensitive data via SMS or email. In the event of suspicion, the credit cards and accounts concerned should be blocked immediately and passwords are changed.

cybercrime at a glance

The security situation in retail and online trading is tense. According to the 2025 security study, published by the trade association, the BMI and crime prevention, 86% of Austrian retailers experienced crime in business. Cybercrime has increased significantly through the progressive digitization and the emergence of artificial intelligence. The study also shows that 64% of domestic web shops were already affected by cybercrime and order fraud. Here Further details on the security situation in retail can be viewed.

The most common crimes in stationary trade are shoplifting and counterfeit money, while phishing attacks are at the top of cybercrime in the online area. To increase security, many retailers rely on various protective measures, such as video surveillance and personnel training. It is therefore important for consumers to find out more about security measures by the trading company and to be skeptical about that seems too good to be true.