“Fraudsters are increasingly choosing not mass, easily recognizable messages, but much more convincing attacks. We record cases where customers are sent realistically looking invoices with our logo and realistically presented information. At first glance, such a letter may not arouse suspicion, so residents should take a few extra minutes to check it,” says Odeta Baranauskienė, Head of Cybersecurity at Telia.
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According to her, one of the most common signs revealing fraud is the sender’s email address. Official invoices to Telia customers are sent from the address noreply@telia.lt, but fraudsters often use similarly looking domains that differ by just one letter, an additional symbol, or a different ending. Suspicion should also be raised by emails urging to make a payment as soon as possible, threatening service restrictions, or providing unusual payment instructions.
According to O. Baranauskienė, special caution should be exercised in cases where the letter indicates a new or previously unseen bank account, urges to make a payment as soon as possible, or threatens service restrictions.
“If there is even the slightest doubt about the received invoice, we recommend not clicking on links in the letter, not opening attached files, and not making a payment. The most reliable way to verify information is to log in to Telia self-service or contact us through official customer service channels,” she says.
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According to the cybersecurity expert, such attacks are based on people’s trust and haste. Therefore, even a professionally prepared letter should not be considered reliable just because it uses the name or logo of a well-known company.
“Cybercriminals aim for the person to make the payment as quickly as possible and not have time to check the details. In most cases, a few minutes are enough to notice that the sender is not genuine or that the details in the invoice do not match the official ones. Vigilance remains one of the most effective protective measures,” says O. Baranauskienė.
If a customer suspects they have fallen victim to fraud and has already made a payment, it is important to immediately contact their bank and report the potentially fraudulent transfer, inform the police and Telia about the incident. It is worth saving all available data: emails, copies of invoices, and payment information. The sooner actions are taken, the greater the chance to reduce losses and help prevent similar crimes against other residents.
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