OT Wise spamming

Not sure why you ask here, but both scenarios are possible. Wise seems to be targetted by scammers but also need to carry out periodic identity checks.

So like all money handling organisations Wise is required to verify your identity to prevent fraud and money laundering, so it sends out e-mails asking you to verify your info. I know from other groups these go out often.

Scammers know this and send out similar messages with links to fake web sites. I know these are also current as I provided some one with a father who had been scammed with help.

You can usually discern which is which by inspecting the full from address, the forgeries have some weird domain, but this can be hard on a mobile device.

.. in any case to check just ignore the links in the messages, log into the Wise website or app, if there is a red dot on the alarm it will have a message in there asking for scans of your ID.

see:-

This. For all scams. Never trust a link in an email. Always log in to any bank account the usual way.

I had a call from my bank once. I refused to give them my details . They said 'well phone the number on your bank card then' and I did.

It was in fact genuine

To the best of my knowledge... I have never been involved in a Wise transaction. There was also a *time limited opportunity* available.

I don't use mobile devices for anything other than messaging/calls.

Thanks

I try to be careful but I don't have much confidence in my wife spotting a scam:-(

Tell her never to respond to random emails

Perhaps there's a way to prevent your email client making links clickable? That would block email scams at a stroke.

That would be annoying for 'verify your email' type messages when you sign up for something, but often they also have a code you can enter, or a link you can cut and paste. (as a rule scams try to obscure their links)

Also, bookmark your financial sites so that you go to them by clicking on the bookmark rather than anything in an email. Often if they want you to do something there will be a message after you've logged into your account.

Theo

I keep putting off the full move to T'bird. I haven't looked for that feature.

Wise. I tend pick from the list produced by a Firefox search.

Hallmarks of a scam. They don't pay to send out the e-mails so just splatter every where and hope they hit some Wise users.

Most with a wise card have the app because it allows them to block the card when they are not using it.

No probs Dave

Apparently there's an advanced setting for it:

Be aware that search results can be tricky as there are often ads that come before the actual search hits. If you aren't paying attention you could click on an ad rather than the place you wanted to go. I wouldn't put it past scammers to pay for ads pretending to be your financial institution, and ad networks to accept them.

(there's a popular site for downloading Android apps outside of the Play Store which has several ads on each page. Unfortunately all the ads put up fake Download buttons, which make it hard to find the genuine download link. Presumably the fake buttons would download malware instead.)

Theo

Hmm. Perhaps someone cleverer than I could try this in the current t'bird.

Indeed. I plan to go with your bookmarks advice. I suppose using a more secure search engine than Firefox might also be wise.

Hmm. I was observing our 11 and 13 year old G Kids on Sunday. Free wifi and mum busy elsewhere!

When I wrote my email client, I specifically made sure that (a) links are inoperative unless you move the mail out of the Inbox (and images don't download), and (b) hovering the mouse over a link reveals whether it is a phishing attempt and displays the true destination.

Claws-mail does b) by default, and I think most other email clients do.

In message snipped-for-privacy@jrenewsid.jretrading.com>, Joe snipped-for-privacy@jretrading.com writes

Ok Joe. I'll try it with Firefox next time something with a link arrives.

In message snipped-for-privacy@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk>, Tim Lamb snipped-for-privacy@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> writes

Oops! T'Bird of course. You can see the capability level of this particular user after a morning spent digging up Ragwort:-(

Yes, I had one yesterday.

I use Firefox, and over the years I have accumulated reliable email addresses for my utility companies, my bank etc that I know work and are trouble-free. If I get an email claiming to be from my bank or whoever, asking me to contact them at such-amd-such address, I ignore that address and use the one I know works.

It works in Firefox as well.

Pass. Lots of agriculturalists asking the same question. We had a mild Winter and a very wet Spring...

"Look how much I saved today on the special offers" :-)

Sort of vaguely on topic for DIY... The link is safe.