Hoaxers sending text messages claiming the receiver has won up to $2 million in a promotional lottery may be using programs that generate random local numbers.
Earlier this month, this newspaper was alerted to a number of SMSs sent from foreign numbers with a prefix starting either with +234 or +44 – the country codes for Nigeria and the UK.
The messages and numbers differed, but they all informed the receiver to reply via text or e-mail to claim the prize following a promotional lottery draw. The amounts varied from £315,000 to $2 million.
Although scamming is not a new phenomenon, this incident raised concern over the source of mobile numbers.
When contacted, the police said the numbers can be obtained from online directories and software programs that emulate the numbers and their local codes.
For instance, Malta’s international dialling code is +356 and some telephone companies have fixed numbers – like 99 for Vodafone Malta, 79 for Go and 77 for Melita numbers.
The software takes the +356 prefix and the fixed numbers, and generates a set of numbers to complete the telephone number.
Eventually, the software will match correct local numbers and the subscriber receives the message.
The police have also warned people to be careful about information posted on social networks and in places that can be hacked. “Don’t forget – what goes on the internet stays on the internet,” a spokesman said.
Despite no increase in the reports, the type of scams keeps evolving, and even messages received from friends should be questioned.
“There have been cases where people were requested by friends to send urgent assistance – usually money – to friends who have encountered problems abroad.
“After sending the money, they usually learn that their friend was never out of the country and that his e-mail had been hacked and his contacts stolen,” the police added.
Since the fraudsters are usually located outside the country, the police are unable to trace them, but local numbers should be reported at the local police station.
Otherwise, any unsolicited messages (including e-mails and Skype messages) should be ignored and deleted straight away.