Anyone who uses the EE mobile network must be on high alert and watch out for a worrying new text message that appears to be circulating. The team at Bitedefender says customers are being targeted by a reward points text that claims they will lose out if they don’t act urgently. “If you just got a text saying 12,739 EE reward points are about to expire in three days, pause,” Bitedefender explained in a post on Instagram. “That message is likely a scam.”

It seems that cyber crooks are back and using the popular EE brand to try and trick people into clicking on links that take them to fake websites built to steal login details.

“Scammers are impersonating EE and using a very specific trick,” Bitedefender added.

“They create a short deadline. They make you feel like you’re about to lose something. That urgency is the manipulation. And the link, it doesn’t go to EE. It goes to a fake site, built to steal your login details.

“Real EE updates appear inside your EE account, not in random text length. If a message pressures you with a countdown, that’s your red flag. Forward suspicious text to 7726, then delete them.”

This isn’t the first time EE users have been targeted by this type of attack. Back in January, a warning was issued about EE rewards point scams after a number of users complained they had received fake messages.

“This morning I received a text regarding my rewards. I followed the link to what looked like a very genuine EE website. Please be careful,” one EE customer warned.

Another EE added, “In a moment of stupidity, I opened a text message link and put in my phone number on an EE points rewards scam text. I realised immediately after and closed the website.”

EE has a dedicated webpage about this issue, with the network saying, “EE is not running a points program.”

The company has also posted what to watch out for, and if you get a text similar to the one below, you should delete it immediately.

“The EE points program reminds you: Since you are a high-quality user of our company, we will give you some points as a gift. The points will expire in three working days. Please click on the link below to use your points to redeem prizes in time!”

Here is the latest advice from EE.

• Never click unknown links in text messages

• Do not reply to this message

• Do not call the number from which the message was sent

• Never share any personal or financial information about yourself and your family