Your phone may be at risk: Lawyer reveals the warning sign to look for immediately!

In today's digital age, concerns over cybersecurity continue to rise as individuals and organisations grapple with the evolving tactics of cyber threats.

Recently, a lawyer issued a warning about a specific type of text message that could indicate a ‘compromised’ phone, prompting heightened awareness among smartphone users.


The New South Wales (NSW) Police recently sent out an alert to around 50,000 individuals as part of Strike Force Wessex—a specialised group with a mission to dismantle alleged criminal groups involved in drug supply through 'dial-a-dealer' operations.

This police operation, launched in April 2023, shed light on an alarming issue: a large number of people are unknowingly linked to these groups through their phones.


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The NSW Police sent out this text message to around 50,000 individuals last week. Credits: Tiktok / @jahankalantarofficial


On March 7, the New South Wales police department disclosed the closure of 26 suspected drug courier phone lines.

Notifications were subsequently dispatched to individuals to inform them of their number’s association with an alleged drug-running phone.

It cautioned, 'The NSW Police Force: Strike Force Wessex has identified this number engaging with an organised crime drug supply ‘dial-a-dealer’ phone. If this continues you may be subject to further investigation. Cease all contact now.'


Lawyer Jahan Kalantar from Executive Law Group confirmed in a video the legitimacy of these messages, cautioning recipients to 'be wary'.

‘If you received this message… It is highly likely that your phone is in some way, shape or form, compromised,’ he said.

He also mentioned that recipients of the text may have had connections with someone who ‘may have been involved in a serious syndicate’.

‘It may be nefarious, it may be not nefarious, but it means that somehow your phone has had some sort of relationship with a phone that has had something to do with the supplied naughty stuff,’ he explained.

‘Maybe you’re a pizza delivery guy or an Uber driver who gave someone a lift once using this number. Maybe you are somebody who had nothing to do with this at all, and your number somehow got into their system, because you know, there was a mistake in the text, it could be anything.’


Mr Kalantar reassured that receiving such a text doesn't necessarily mean you're in legal trouble, but it does, however, act as a loud wake-up call for those knowingly involved in unlawful activities to cease right away.

‘You’d be wise to stop that activity immediately,’ he said.

‘It would not be very difficult for people who continue to engage in that behaviour to find themselves in serious legal trouble pretty quickly.’

He described the method employed by the NSW police as a 'brilliant swoop', unique in its execution.

‘People who receive (the text) and have nothing to worry about, are going to just be confused, and probably won’t do anything. People who have something to worry about may change their behaviour. So I thought it was actually quite an innovative and creative way of letting people know that maybe their secrets aren’t as secret as they thought they were,’ he remarked.


As a part of Strike Force Wessex, the police seized eight phones, and rendered 26 phone numbers useless, as these numbers were previously utilised by alleged members of a criminal syndicate.

Authorities claimed that certain phone numbers, known to their contacts solely by aliases like 'Dior,' 'Tommy,' and 'Ricky,' have been active for as long as a decade.

This demonstrates one of the police's initial efforts to exploit technological advancements to dismantle criminal syndicates, according to Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor.

‘Exploiting new technological capabilities, and using our relationship with various Australian telecommunication companies, we’ve been able to shut down these phones that were running up to millions of dollars’ worth of drugs per week – anything from cannabis to cocaine to ice,’ he said.

‘Now we’ve disrupted the dealers’ direct line to their customers, we can turn our attention to those at the top—the criminal syndicate controlling these phones—and we’ll be coming after them next,’ he added.

You can watch Mr Kalantar’s full video here:

Source: Tiktok / @jahankalantarofficial

While this text was confirmed legitimate, many Aussies still need to be cautious about the others.

This form of communication is also used by scammers for a variety of criminal activities. You can read the full details about it here.
Key Takeaways
  • A lawyer warned that 50,000 people whose phone numbers were linked to 'dial-a-dealer' drug supply phones may be ‘compromised’.
  • NSW Police sent out texts as part of Operation Strike Force Wessex to people whose numbers were connected with alleged drug runners.
  • Receiving the text doesn't mean the individual is in legal trouble, but indicates their number had some relation to a phone involved in drug supply.
  • NSW Police reportedly shut down 26 drug runner phone numbers and seized eight phones, which were used by criminal syndicates for drug supply operations.
Did you receive this message? Have you taken the necessary precautions for maintaining your phone's security yet? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
 
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What message? What number? - I found the article difficult to understand
The NSW police message indicating your phone is part of a drug dealer network- clearly they have unraveled a network that supplies drugs and they’re contacting all the phone numbers connected with that network - if you didn’t receive the police message you’re not involved
 
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Reactions: Ezzy
What message? What number? - I found the article difficult to understand
If you do not deal in drugs you are OK.
The police must have the phone of the drug dealers or others and of course if you rang the number attached to this the police have your number in the log of the drug dealer. That is how I read it. I am not worried...never touched any drugs other than those prescribed for me by doctor.
 
This would still scare me worrying it was a scam. I, would indeed, contact my local police station and ask if they were sending such a text. I don't deal or take illicit drugs only the ones prescribed by my doctors. This article is a bit unclear.
 
Yes. I would delete the message, block the number and flag it as spam. Not a bright idea of the police IT dept.
I thought it was quite clever actually. If someone like you or me get it then deleting it would be the thing to do. Anyone who has used the illicit drug service would be worried and either stop right away or continue, risking being investigated by the police.
 
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Reactions: DrivingGirl
I think that this article would give scammers another idea! They could recreate this text & add a link for you to click on, saying something like "If you believe this message has been sent to you in error, click the link here." Then "click" & the scammers have got access to your phone & all your information!
 
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Reactions: Miss Mermaid
I think that this article would give scammers another idea! They could recreate this text & add a link for you to click on, saying something like "If you believe this message has been sent to you in error, click the link here." Then "click" & the scammers have got access to your phone & all your information!
But the advice is always not to click on links so it’s no more risky as any other message If the scammers get on the bandwagons
 
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Reactions: SandyM
One of my boys is a senior police officer. If I got this message I'd be calling him immediately. The ease with which scammers 'poach' phone numbers is really scary!
 
Am I missing something? I read the whole bleeding article and even watched the attached video, but nowhere does it say WHAT THE MESSAGE IS!!! How are you supposed to know what to do if you don't know what you should be looking for. Well, I am not happy. The time I wasted going through this twice I could have learnt something useful. Please let me know what this text is, and for future reference, if you have an article like this, please put the message that is dangerous in BOLD. Maybe I am the only dummy that could not work this out...
 

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