A recent surge in the sheer of volume of so-called “smishing scams”, bogus SMS messages attempting to fool mobile phone users into clicking on a malicious link, has Greek authorities issuing warning left and right.
SMS messages ostensibly from the tax bureau (AADE), to secure a heating oil subsidy, for instance, the gov.gr platform to access various services, pay road fees and even the Post Office (EL.TA) and toll operators (Attiki Odos) have mushroomed over the recent period.
A copy of a malicious email sent on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2022, which reads, in Greek: “You have received the heating oil subsidy”, followed by the address for the fake tax bureau page.
Clicking on the dubious link risks losing one’s confidential information held on the mobile phone, such as bank codes, credit card numbers and other data, or being tricked into sending money to the con artists networks.
While repeatedly and vigorously emphasized over many years, the tax authority this week again pointed out that its websites use the gov.gr or .aade.gr domains, instead of .com – such as the malicious “myaadear.com/en”.
Neither AADE or any other public sector-related organization and independent authorities in the country send SMS with links for payment or to verify arrears.
