The number of phishing emails sent daily is around 3.4 billion–with a B! With phishing emails becoming oversaturated, smishing (SMS phishing) is now getting more attention from scammers. In this Techspert article, we will cover the latest top 3 smishing scams. If you want to become more familiar with how to spot phishing scams and report them, you can find much information on the topic in the following articles:
#1: Phony Bank Fraud Warnings
The FTC states that reports about copycat bank fraud prevention alerts have increased nearly 2,000% since 2019. Most banks use text notifications for various reasons, making it challenging to spot a smishing attempt from a legitimate bank notification. Common fake bank texts include verifying account information, confirming large purchases, and updating account information. If you receive such a text, refrain from replying or clicking on any link. Instead, navigate to your bank’s website or app to check for yourself.
#2: Bogus Free Gifts & Prizes
Be wary of free gifts, prizes, and reward texts from unknown senders. These texts often come from individuals impersonating your phone company or well-known retailers. They would ask you to click on a link to claim your reward, and sometimes, even ask you to pay a small fee for the shipping of the prize. If you are not expecting a gift or reward from a specific company, it is safer to ignore these texts completely.
#3: Fake Package Delivery Issues
Be cautious of text messages about fake package delivery issues, especially during the peak season for most delivery carriers. Do not click the links in those messages and only get customer service help from the company’s official avenues. For texts claiming to come from Amazon, open the Amazon app and check for yourself before responding.
Conclusion
Proactively avoid smishing scams by not clicking on links or replying to random messages. Filter out unwanted messages before they even reach you, and learn how to filter and block spam messages or unknown senders on your smartphone. Stay vigilant and report any smishing attempts to the appropriate authorities.
Tell us about a smishing scam you encountered and how you handled the situation in the comment section below.
