Austrian Citizens Warned of Fake Climate Bonus Phishing Scam
Austrian citizens are warned about a new phishing scam involving a fake climate bonus portal. The scam, which has been circulating via SMS, urges recipients to provide personal information, claiming the bonus program has returned. However, the program ended in January 2025, making this a clear sign of fraud.
The SMS message, sent en masse, is short and creates a sense of urgency, stating 'only for a limited time'. It directs recipients to a fake portal that requests personal information, including name, social security number, email address, phone number, and household size. The Austrian government has confirmed it does not inform citizens about funding and bonus programs via SMS, further indicating a scam.
Investigations into such phishing incidents are primarily handled by the federal police (Bundeskriminalamt) in cooperation with regional authorities and the Computer Emergency Response Team Austria (CERT.at). The police also work with consumer protection organizations to provide public guidance. Authorities advise that clicking the link in the SMS poses no immediate risk, but entering data on the portal makes victims vulnerable to further scams. The recent registration of the fake portal's domain on September 29 also suggests a high likelihood of it being a scam.
Victims are urged to report any such incidents to the police to aid investigation and prevention of further scams. The public is reminded to be cautious of unsolicited messages claiming to offer government benefits, especially when they request personal information. The Austrian government does not use SMS to inform citizens about such programs.
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