Facebook offering transportation discounts as part of phishing scam
In a concerning development, a widespread phishing scam targeting public transport services on Facebook has been uncovered, affecting over 700 cities and regions in 60 countries worldwide [1].
The fraudulent pages, identified by the Spanish fact-checking organisation Maldita.es, offer travel cards at enticing low prices but ultimately lead users to phishing websites designed to steal credit card details [1].
The investigation revealed that more than half of the administrators of these pages are believed to be located in Vietnam, while a majority of the phishing domains are hosted on servers tied to just two IP addresses in Russia [1]. The scam's persistence is attributed to the use of over 9,000 paid ads on Facebook and Instagram to spread the phishing content [1].
The countries most affected by this phishing wave include France, Spain, and the UK, with Germany also identified as having 16 fraudulent public transport pages on Facebook [1]. The scam is not confined to a single region, as evidenced by its global reach, with cities from Dakar (Senegal) to Astana (Kazakhstan) being affected [1].
To avoid falling victim to this scam, users are advised not to click on any links from these suspicious pages and are encouraged to report any phishing posts to Facebook [2]. If you have already been a victim, it is recommended to file a report with your local police or the online police station responsible for your area [3].
This phishing scam is a reminder for users to remain vigilant when using social media platforms and to be cautious when encountering offers that seem too good to be true.
References: [1] Maldita.es. (2025). Investigación revela que más de 1.000 páginas falsas de transporte público están utilizando Facebook para robar datos de tarjetas de crédito. Retrieved from https://www.maldita.es/2025/07/22/investigacion-revela-que-mas-de-1000-paginas-falsas-de-transporte-publico-estan-utilizando-facebook-para-robar-datos-de-tarjetas-de-credito/ [2] Facebook Help Centre. (n.d.). How do I report a phishing scam? Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/help/241542246104440 [3] Action Fraud. (n.d.). Report a phishing scam. Retrieved from https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing
- This global phishing scam, targeting public transport services on Facebook, highlights the importance of general-news awareness regarding cybersecurity threats and crime-and-justice issues, as it impacts over 700 cities and regions in 60 countries.
- As technology advances, it's crucial to be cautious when using social media platforms like Facebook, especially when encountering offers that seem too good to be true, to avoid falling victim to crimes such as phishing scams designed to steal credit card details.
