New version of the '0800 scam' is claiming MANY victims; learn how to protect yourself

Recently, the scammers have employed a tactic that involves making phone calls to potential victims.

Using a robotic voice, they claim to have identified a suspicious high-value transaction associated with a retail purchase.

The automated voice instructs the recipient to press keys 1 or 2 to confirm or deny the transaction. However, this approach is actually a variant of 0800 number scam. In later stages of the connection, criminals try to obtain personal information, passwords and tokens.

Knowing how the scam is applied, without a doubt, is the best form of prevention. Continue reading and check out the details and developments of this action!

Techniques used to cause financial loss to victims

• Robotic Voice Calls: A robotic voice is used in calls, thus informing about suspicious transactions and asking the victim to press keys to confirm or deny the transfer;
• Audible Response Units (URAs):
  The aforementioned technology is used to create false call centers, increasing the credibility of the scam;
• 0800 Number Scam: Fraudsters pretend to be a banking institution and send SMS messages claiming approval of a purchase. In this sense, they instruct the victim to press a key to confirm the transaction. If the purchase is unknown, they advise you to call a false 0800 number;
• Miles or Points About to Expire: Criminals send messages claiming that the miles or points on the customer's card are about to expire. With this, they ask the customer to call the fake telephone exchange to avoid losing benefits;
• Offer of False Prizes: Messages promising false prizes are sent to trick the victim into calling them;
• Allegations of Internal Fraud at the Bank: Scammers call victims claiming that their accounts are being targeted for fraud by bank employees. In this case, they instruct you to transfer funds to a secure key or account.

The director of Febraban's Fraud Prevention Committee, Adriano Volpini, highlights the importance of customers avoiding making calls to telephone numbers (0800) provided by messages.

He explains that banks may make calls to confirm suspicious transactions, but they never request information such as passwords or tokens. Volpini adds that banks never call to perform transaction reversals via phone calls.

If you receive a suspicious call, the best practice is to hang up and then contact your bank's official channels via another phone to find out more details about the matter.

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