Ask The Techspert: The Top 3 Smishing Scams

The number of phishing emails sent daily is around 3.4 billion–with a B! So, as phishing emails are becoming way too oversaturated, and thousands of articles are available to provide insights on spotting them, smishing (SMS phishing) is now getting more attention from scammers. 

Because scammers keep finding new ways to conduct their misdeeds, 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:

• Ask the Techspert: Avoid Email Scams This Holiday Season
• Scam Alert: Smishing for Dollars
• Avoiding Quiz Scams

#1: Phony Bank Fraud Warnings

The FTC states that reports about copycat bank fraud prevention alerts have increased nearly 2,000% since 2019. Since most banks use text notifications for various reasons, spotting a smishing attempt from a legitimate bank notification is sometimes challenging. So, it helps to know what the most common fake bank texts are about:

• Verifying your account information to unlock your account blocked for suspicious activity
• Confirming a large purchase from your account
• Someone attempting to log into your account
• Updating your account information
• Someone sending you money

No matter how legitimate a text from your bank might look, a good rule of thumb is to refrain from replying or clicking on any link. Instead, navigate to your bank website or app or call the number on the back of your credit/debit card to check for yourself.

If the text was a smishing attempt, immediately delete it and report such requests to your bank and the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov ).

#2: Bogus Free Gifts & Prizes

If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is. 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, they might 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. Regarding text messages from your phone carrier and familiar retailers, you can always log into their official websites to check for any reward or discount.

#3: Fake Package Delivery Issues

It is well-known that the peak season for most delivery carriers is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We all should already be on the lookout for text messages about fake package delivery issues. When everybody might be expecting packages from their Black Friday shopping spree or holiday gifts from their family, it is easy to fall for this scam. The key is always to refrain from clicking the links in those messages and only get customer service help from the company’s official avenues.

As we are on the delivery topic, you should also watch out for texts claiming to come from Amazon. They are similar to the bogus bank fraud prevention messages. They might ask you to verify a big purchase; then you get a phone call from a fake Amazon rep ready to “help you fix” your account. Other times, they might tell you that your account got a refund credited and that you should verify your account before getting it. Don’t be quick to respond. Instead, open the Amazon app and check for yourself.

Conclusion

Please remember that we only covered the top three smishing scams, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The actual list of all scam topics is quite pervasive. Therefore, we must remain vigilant.

You can proactively avoid smishing scams by doing the following:

• NEVER click on links or reply to random messages. If you believe the message to be legitimate, find a way to contact the company using a medium you have used before.
• FILTER OUT unwanted messages before they even reach you. Although you may not filter out 100% of smishing attempts, you could avoid many. Learn how to filter and block spam messages or unknown senders on your smartphone on this Apple webpage for iPhone users and this Google webpage for Android users. You can also use third-party call-blocking apps that you can download from the App Store or the Google Play Store.

Your Turn

In the comment section below, tell us about a smishing scam you encountered, and how you handled the situation. 

 

Techspert Jonathan is Senior Planet’s Sr. Digital Community Relations and Product Specialist and a former Senior Planet San Antonio technology trainer. He is also an iOS developer with a background in Information Systems and Cyber Security.

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