Scam: the SNCF warns about this fake competition which is spreading on WhatsApp as the holidays approach: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

Vigilance is required. Sunday December 17, 2023, the SNCF alerted the public to a scam spreading on the WhatsApp application. Under the misleading title of “happy travels and best wishes”, this fraud aims to lure users into a fake competition with the tempting promise of winning a year of free travel on trains. However, this is a sophisticated scam, and SNCF calls for vigilance. The scam, revealed by the railway company on social networks, uses the technique of phishing, seeking to encourage Internet users to disclose personal information and banking. Jean-Jacques Latour, cybersecurity manager at Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, underlines in an article in Parisian the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of any unexpected messages, whether by email, SMS, or even instant messaging.

A surge in scams during the holiday season

This phishing method spreads via contact lists, according to information relayed by BFMTV. It is essential to exercise increased vigilance to counter these malicious attempts. The trap of this scam is hidden in the link provided, with a domain name ([email protected]) distinct from that of SNCF. A simple check can detect the deception, because the clickable link points to a domain not affiliated with the SNCF. It is crucial not to open the link or share it, to avoid any fraud attempts. The period preceding Christmas becomes conducive to scams, with a notable upsurge in the Chronopost parcel scam, as indicated Capital. This is not the first time that ill-intentioned individuals have pretended to be the SNCF. This summer, fake email advertisements offered to buy an “Advantage” card at a ridiculous price, which led the group to file a complaint. The SNCF therefore calls on users to exercise caution and report any suspicious activitythus contributing to the fight against these fraudulent practices which proliferate, especially during the festive period.