Scam Alert – April 2025: Scam Text Message Impersonating Latitude

We have received reports of scam text messages pretending to be from Latitude. These messages claim that your mobile number has been updated and ask you to visit a fake website to restore the previous number.

What should I do?

If you received an unexpected text message from Latitude, please ignore it and delete it from your device.
Remember – don’t click on any links or share personal information if the contact was unsolicited. Should you have shared any personal details or responded to such a scam, please contact Latitude right away.

Understanding Scam Recovery Scams and How to Protect Yourself

A scam recovery scam, also referred to as a fund recovery scam, occurs when criminals target individuals who have previously fallen victim to scams. These scammers falsely claim they can help you recover the stolen funds, often demanding an upfront fee or a percentage of the recovered amount. Unfortunately, even legitimate recovery services rarely succeed in recovering stolen money, and such scams only exacerbate the financial losses for victims.

Latitude is advising its customers to exercise caution when approached by individuals or organisations offering to recover stolen funds in exchange for an upfront fee. Victims should be aware that such promises are often deceptive. Latitude encourages individuals to report scams to local authorities and contact their financial institutions to initiate appropriate investigations.

Key Tactics Used by Scammers

Scammers typically make promises of full recovery, but in most cases, no funds are ever returned to the victim. Instead, scammers may request access to your computer or mobile device, further compromising their security. In the worst-case scenario, these additional scams result in more funds being stolen.

Criminals frequently pose as trusted entities such as government agencies, legal professionals, or charitable organisations. Some may even fabricate stories, pretending to be scam victims themselves, and claim that a specific individual or company was able to help them recover their lost money. A significant challenge in recovering funds from scam victims is the rapid transfer of money, often to offshore accounts, which makes the retrieval of these funds difficult.

How Scam Recovery Scams Operate

1. Initial Contact: Criminals often initiate contact with victims by posing as trusted figures, such as representatives from government agencies, cyber security firms, fund recovery services, lawyers, consumer advocacy groups, or charities. They may use various channels, including email, phone calls, mobile apps, social media, or text messages, to reach out to potential victims.
2. Scam Discovery: In some cases, victims first encounter these scammers through advertisements on social media or through online searches, where criminals promote their "recovery" services.
3. Payment Demands: The scammers will claim they can recover lost funds in exchange for an upfront fee and a percentage of the recovered funds. They may also suggest that they can trace lost cryptocurrency.
4. Collection of Personal Information: To appear legitimate, the scammers may request personal information from the victim under the guise of verifying their identity. They may also set up a cryptocurrency wallet to facilitate payments for their services
5. Remote Access Requests: In some instances, scammers may ask to remotely access the victim’s computer or mobile device, enabling them to steal additional personal information, including financial details.
6. Fabricated Success Stories: Some scammers go so far as to pretend to be victims of scams themselves, claiming that a particular entity helped them recover their lost money. They may direct victims to fake reviews or recommendations from "other victims" who claim to have successfully recovered funds.
7. Professional Looking Websites: To enhance their credibility, scammers may create seemingly legitimate websites that advertise their recovery services, complete with professional designs and detailed guides. These deceptive sites may also include fake paperwork as part of the "recovery" process.

Protecting Yourself from Scam Recovery Scams

To safeguard against falling victim to scam recovery scams, it is crucial to remain vigilant. Always be cautious of unsolicited offers to recover lost funds, especially if they require upfront payments or access to your personal devices. If you suspect you have been targeted, report the incident to the police and contact Latitude immediately.

Remember, legitimate recovery services rarely require upfront fees, and no one can guarantee the recovery of funds once they have been stolen. By staying informed and cautious, you can help protect yourself from these evolving scams.