Beware of fraud! False emails and SMS to insured persons

Attention to fraud: Those insured by the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) are again receiving messages about an alleged refund. The messages are sent via SMS or email. It asks the insured to open a link to request the refund online.

Danger! Hands off!

These messages are an attempted scam. The ÖGK urges its insured persons not to respond to this. Under no circumstances should the link provided be opened or personal data be disclosed.

Smishing – Beware of fraudulent SMS messages

Not only emails are in circulation, but also SMS. Smishing is a form of phishing in which cybercriminals attempt to trick people into revealing personal information through fake SMS messages. This information can be, for example, bank details, passwords or identity data. The SMS is often designed to leave an urgent or important impression and encourages people to click on a link or call a phone number.

Detecting smishing messages and taking action against them

• Urgent requests are suspicious: Smishing messages often contain threats or promises. Never click directly on links in suspicious SMS messages. Enter the address manually in the browser or call the phone number directly on the organization’s official website.
• Block incorrect senders or suspicious phone numbers immediately: The sender or a telephone number of the message often appears to be a trustworthy source, such as banks, authorities or well-known companies. Banks or government agencies typically do not send urgent messages via SMS. The phone numbers in smishing messages can often be identified by different area codes or character combinations.
• Distrust of urgent demands: If a message asks you to immediately click on a link or enter sensitive information, this is a clear warning sign. Reputable organizations do not call for an immediate response in this way.
• Do not share any personal information via SMS or email: Never reveal personal information such as passwords, credit card details or PINs via SMS or via suspicious links. In order to close the security gaps on the computer or mobile devices, a regular software update must be carried out.