Text Scam Link Clicked On - Am I Safe?

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I am based in the UK & we have a Delivery Company here called Evri - large & famous that is commonly used. As we are renovating, I have been ordering many items lately & expecting many deliveries.

I got a text today on my iPhone from apparently Evri stating that their driver was unable to deliver & to click the link to re-schedule a delivery - please see image attached. I thought it was safe as the link had "https".

As I had my 2015 Macbook Pro at hand (running Mojave 10.14.6 & Safari 14.1.2) I entered the link details manually & upon clicking, the screen displayed a blank white screen with the words "Form Completed" in small font at the very top left hand corner of the screen.

As I have been having issues with Safari not displaying web-pages properly lately, I then just clicked on the text link on my iPhone & again, it just opened the same blank page on iOS Safari with the same "Form Completed" small font text in the upper left hand corner.

I then called a friend who is somewhat knowledgeable about Macs & he said it should be nothing to worry about as "Form Completed" on the blank screen means that the Apple System was protecting me & did not allow the scam text to complete doing whatever it was trying to do.

I will be contacting me bank/credit card companies but wish to ask does what my friend say sound right & is it correct?

After checking, I have no doubt it was definitely a scam text which I got caught out on as was expecting a delivery today.

If the Apple system had protected me & not allowed this scam link to work should it not have said something like "Form Denied" instead of "Form Completed"?

My friend said to delete the Cache on my MBP & website data on the Safari iOS App which I did.

I am still somewhat concerned that I might still be compromised & if so, what should I do to stop my data/sensitive information being accessed or my computer/iPhone being at risk.

Would welcome any advice

Thank You Kindly.

 

[Nermal]

I then called a friend who is somewhat knowledgeable about Macs & he said it should be nothing to worry about as "Form Completed" on the blank screen means that the Apple System was protecting me & did not allow the scam text to complete doing whatever it was trying to do.

Nope, it simply means that the scam website told your browser to produce that message.

With that said, it's probably OK. Typically getting infected involves actually running a downloaded file, and it doesn't sound like that happened in this case. Clearing the cache and site data has likely wiped out anything that it could have placed on your computer.

 

[Analog Kid]

I haven't done it for a while, but is Malwarebytes still free for download and scan? If so, it wouldn't hurt for the peace of mind...

 

[kitKAC]

2015 Macbook Pro at hand (running Mojave 10.14.6 & Safari 14.1.2)

Also, you're not doing yourself any favours by running out-of-date software, you should be able to upgrade to Monterey and run Safari 17 on that machine.

 

[Bazzy]

Also, you're not doing yourself any favours by running out-of-date software, you should be able to upgrade to Monterey and run Safari 17 on that machine.

Hi,

Yes, you are most certainly right - I have wanted to for some time but my MBP still kind of struggles with Mojave - runs slow, beachballs, runs out of RAM quickly that I kind of got nervous to update but will most certainly do so now

Thanks Kindly

 

[Bazzy]

Nope, it simply means that the scam website told your browser to produce that message.

With that said, it's probably OK. Typically getting infected involves actually running a downloaded file, and it doesn't sound like that happened in this case. Clearing the cache and site data has likely wiped out anything that it could have placed on your computer.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply - ironically it was only yesterday that my BitDefender Subscription ran out & the next day this...

Is BitDefender still good & is there anything else better? What would have stopped clicking on a Scam link in its tracks either on the MBP or iPhone?

Many Thanks

 

[Bazzy]

I haven't done it for a while, but is Malwarebytes still free for download and scan? If so, it wouldn't hurt for the peace of mind...

I will look into MalwareBytes - thank you!

 

[Fishrrman]

MalwareBytes is what you need.

Be aware that it downloads as a preview of the "pay for" version, and runs FREE for about 15 days.

After 15 days (or so), it will ask if you wish to continue using it (the pay-for version).

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.
Just decline, and it will convert into the "free version" and you will not be bothered again.

Just run it now and then, in free mode.

 

[Bazzy]

MalwareBytes is what you need.

Be aware that it downloads as a preview of the "pay for" version, and runs FREE for about 15 days.

After 15 days (or so), it will ask if you wish to continue using it (the pay-for version).

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.
Just decline, and it will convert into the "free version" and you will not be bothered again.

Just run it now and then, in free mode.

Hi!

Thanks for this - will definitely get MalwareBytes & do a scan - if it shows clear then I presume my MBP is clear of infections but does it mean the scammers will not have access to it or my data - now or in future by my clicking on that link?

Please can you explain: I had read that if a website has "HTTPS" then it is safe & secure to click on it & this was the reason I did so - why then did it turn out to be a scammer?

In hindsight, I should have also checked the number that the text came from just to be sure but as it was a mobile number, it still could have been from what I presumed was the delivery driver.

What is the very best security suite out there for Macs that stops all types of scams - fake text links, fake websites, taking over ones computer, hacking etc - Bitdefender, AVG Ultimate, Norton etc?

How is MalwareBytes different to these & should one also get it in addition to one of the above like BitDefender etc?

Many Thanks!

 

[Nermal]

Please can you explain: I had read that if a website has "HTTPS" then it is safe & secure to click on it & this was the reason I did so - why then did it turn out to be a scammer?

I'm afraid you've been misinformed. HTTPS simply means that nobody "between" you and the site (e.g. your ISP) can spy on you or tamper with the data. It isn't a guarantee that the site at the other end isn't malicious.