Earlier this year fake PayPal and Optus texts and emails were being used to scam unsuspecting Australians, and now it’s JB Hi-Fi’s turn. A text message has been circulating from ‘JBHiFi’ that is definitely not from the retailer. Here’s what you need to know.
The body of the SMS addresses the reader by name, stating that it is looking for testers in their local city and has signed them up. It is also accompanied by a link.
The retailer took to social media earlier today to warn people about the scam.
Hey Good people of the Internet!
Please be on the lookout for a SCAM text message doing the rounds re: Product Testing for JB Hi-Fi. This is NOT us!
We heavily advise not clicking the link or responding to the message.
Stay Safe! pic.twitter.com/BMcqfvYir2
— JB Hi-Fi (@JBHiFi) August 27, 2018
The Facebook post provided some extra details.
In a reply on Twitter, JB confirmed that it has requested the removal of scam content.
Thanks! The more people who do it the better. We report and request removal of scam content as soon as we discover it.
Its a game of digital whack-a-mole.
— JB Hi-Fi (@JBHiFi) August 27, 2018
Other users are also confirming that they have received the text.
Thanks guys! I was pretty sure the message I got was a scam, as it said JB was looking for testers in Richmond – and I know there is no store there. Also I haven’t lived in Richmond for over a year, so not a particularly sophisticated scam!
— Tim Constantine (@tim_actor) August 27, 2018
Similar confirmations can be found on the Facebook post.
If you do receive a scam email or SMS from ‘JB Hi-Fi’ or a similar sounding suspect source, report it to Scamwatch and don’t click on any unknown links. The site also offers advice and resources to those who have been victims of a scam.
We have reached out to JB Hi-Fi for comment and will update the story if they get back to us.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2018/08/scammers-are-pretending-to-be-telstra-and-nbn/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-618654642_1080-410×231.jpg” title=”Scammers Are Pretending To Be Telstra And NBN” excerpt=”There’s been a surge in “remote access” scams of late, with more than 8,000 Aussies losing a total of $4.4 million to Telstra, NBN, Microsoft and even NSW Police impersonators.
Here’s what to be on the lookout for.”]