KEY POINTS:
We've had the email and letter scams, now fraudsters are targeting us by phone text messages.
A text claiming to be from cellphone giant Nokia has been sent to New Zealand cellphones saying the user has won 120,000 ($303,514) in an international promotion.
The recipient is asked to call a British number or email nokiaclaims - agent101@yahoo.com to claim the money.
One Auckland woman received the text even though her cellphone was not made by Nokia.
When the Herald called the number supplied in the text, we were told 10 people from each continent had been picked as winners.
Our reporter was asked to email her full name, address and some form of identification to the email address in the text.
After that she would be given the choice of receiving the cash by courier or direct banking.
Consumer New Zealand adviser Paul Doocey said the scammers might be after bank account details, or they might ask for a fee before the money was transferred.
"I certainly haven't come across anything like this before. It's straight along the lines of the Nigerian letter and email scams."
He few scams used texts to contact people.
"Finding a physical address is easy - you just look in the phone book. Email addresses you can find electronically or guess. But the majority of cellphone numbers you can't find anywhere."
He said it might be more difficult to fool people by text than email because there was no ability to make an instant reply.
"They have to get people to call or email, and by then they may be saying `wait a minute ..."'
Mr Doocey did not think many people would be fooled. Details such as the large prize amount, the fact the prize was in pounds and the yahoo.com email address would give it away.
The Government's Scamwatch website says overseas research suggests one in 10 people have lost money to scammers, at an average loss of more than $2000 each.
Victims of other cellphone stings have had unsolicited calls or texts offering ringtones, competitions, prizes or pretending to be a wrongly dialled number. Those who respond can end up paying huge charges on their phone bills.
Nokia's Australia New Zealand communications manager, Louise Ingram, said Nokia did not text customers or even keep a record of their cellphone numbers.
"These things happen from time to time but we do not offer nor have we ever offered anything like that amount of money. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Mr Doocey's advice to anyone who received the scam text was to delete it. "Don't send an abusive text because it will just cost you money."
WHAT THE TEXT SAID
CONGRATULATIONS! Your Cell Number has won 120,000 in THE NOKIA PROMO. For claims call john campbell: +447031846044 or Email nokiaclaims - agent101@yahoo.com.
