".cc" scam?

[dddave]

I just got an SMS on my personal mobile stating that a delivery attempt had been unsuccessful  because they could not contact me.  Thing is, I don't have any deliveries due.  The message refers me to a website for "fir-line", the URL ending with ".cc"  I had never seen .cc before.  Google reveals it's the COCOS (KEELING) Islands, some Australian territory and that .cc URLs are being marketed because "they can be used in many different ways".  Well, Yah.   

I have no idea what this little endeavor actually is but keep an eye out for .cc URLs.

[Dan O]

3 minutes ago, dddave said:

I just got an SMS on my personal mobile stating that a delivery attempt had been unsuccessful  because they could not contact me.  Thing is, I don't have any deliveries due.  The message refers me to a website for "fir-line", the URL ending with ".cc"  I had never seen .cc before.  Google reveals it's the COCOS (KEELING) Islands, some Australian territory and that .cc URLs are being marketed because "they can be used in many different ways".  Well, Yah.   

I have no idea what this little endeavor actually is but keep an eye out for .cc URLs.

Its a typical scam that has been around for a while. Watch for similar ones from banks or debt cards or any number if things and never click on the links 

[villageidiotY2K]

8 hours ago, Dan O said:

Its a typical scam that has been around for a while. Watch for similar ones from banks or debt cards or any number if things and never click on the links 

what actually happens when u clcik on those scam email links? 

Does it offer more protection if ur viewing via iphone (chrome)  instead of a desktop pc?

[Dan O]

1 hour ago, villageidiotY2K said:

what actually happens when u clcik on those scam email links? 

Does it offer more protection if ur viewing via iphone (chrome)  instead of a desktop pc?

There is no protection no matter what phone brand. If you click a link it takes you to the scamming site that mimic whatever company making the claims  they can even scalp your data from your phone by loading a software that straps all your data

 

[Lacessit]

Just delete them as you get them, don't open them. They will give up after a while.

 

I only open emails from people and companies I know.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, villageidiotY2K said:

what actually happens when u clcik on those scam email links? 

Does it offer more protection if ur viewing via iphone (chrome)  instead of a desktop pc?

 

If you click on the link, your Thai immigration status is shared with the Thai revenue department.

[Wrwest]

On 12/15/2024 at 11:14 AM, dddave said:

I just got an SMS on my personal mobile stating that a delivery attempt had been unsuccessful  because they could not contact me.  Thing is, I don't have any deliveries due.  The message refers me to a website for "fir-line", the URL ending with ".cc"  I had never seen .cc before.  Google reveals it's the COCOS (KEELING) Islands, some Australian territory and that .cc URLs are being marketed because "they can be used in many different ways".  Well, Yah.   

I have no idea what this little endeavor actually is but keep an eye out for .cc URLs.

Fortunately, my Apple Mail automatically places in the "Junk" folder for my review and deletion so I never open such.

[Hakuna Matata]

Don't be afraid to click on the link, only to see what they want next. Don't do anything on the website, and you are safe. It will not install any malware without your intervention. This is a hoax. Browsing a website and not clicking any links is generally 100% safe.

[Hakuna Matata]

1 hour ago, Wrwest said:

Fortunately, my Apple Mail automatically places in the "Junk" folder for my review and deletion so I never open such.

 

The OP is talking about SMS messages, not email 🙂

 

[Wrwest]

On 12/16/2024 at 12:43 PM, Hakuna Matata said:

 

The OP is talking about SMS messages, not email 🙂

 

Apology. I was confused by: "The message refers me to a website for "fir-line", the URL ending with ".cc" . I had never seen .cc before." I guess I have only seen .cc as part of an email address.

[Dogmatix]

Another common scam is a bilingual message purportedly from Thai postal customs saying a package has arrived for you from overseas with some tax to pay. Since Thais now order tons of consumer items from China there is always gonna be a certain percentage of SMS recipients waiting for something coming from China. If they fall for it, the scammers will try to get their bank account details and suck it dry. Another version of the scam involves a phone call to your number with a recorded message in Thai from a “customs official” with a pleasant, polite female voice telling you to click on a click being sent to you by SMS. 

 

Thai postal customs repeatedly posts notices advising the public that they don’t send SMSs. They send all notifications about tax on incoming parcels by mail. God knows how much this scam has netted so far. 
 

Since scanners now seem able to use Thai mobile numbers, it is a pretty safe bet that mobile phone company staff are involved in the scams in addition to police and other government officials.

[Upnotover]

22 hours ago, Wrwest said:

Apology. I was confused by: "The message refers me to a website for "fir-line", the URL ending with ".cc" . I had never seen .cc before." I guess I have only seen .cc as part of an email address.

Lots of SMS messages contain web links.

[VBF]

On 12/15/2024 at 2:57 PM, Lacessit said:

Just delete them as you get them, don't open them. They will give up after a while.

 

<snip>

And if you're using an Android phone, mark them as Spam and block them for the future. (I'm sure Apple also offers that facility too of course)

[NORDO]

LOS...Land of Scams.

[Thingamabob]

All kinds of scams going on  Nothing new about that. The latest I had was from a person alleging to be from the Thal Post Office saying they had a special parcel for me the delivery of which would incur extra charges, and asking for a debit card number. Obviously a scam, but well presented on official post office forms .

 

 

 

 

[fittobethaied]

This is a new scam going around the US, especially now that Christmas is upon us, but it could easily spread to Thailand and the rest of the world:

 

Beware of Brushing Scam!

A recent scam has been showing up in many states. We have not had any local reports but want to make residents aware before you are victimized.

 

A "brushing" scam is when someone receives an unexpected gift or item not ordered in the mail from a place like Amazon or other company. Examples of gifts include, rings, bracelets, necklaces, Bluetooth speaker, etc. The gift will have the recipient’s address but not include the sender's information or be from a known retailer. When the recipient opens the package to see what it is and possibly who sent it, there is a QR code to scan to find out who sent the gift.

Once the code is scanned, all the information from that phone will be sent to scammers. They receive all access to the phone. All personal and financial information is accessible to the scammers and often the victim's bank accounts are drained.

 

The gift can be kept or thrown away, but the QR code should NOT be scanned for any reason. QR code scams are nothing new. These scams show up in all places, including parking meters.

Inform your family members about the scam and avoid scanning any unknown QR codes included in the package.