Texting has quickly become the most preferred way to communicate. It is no surprise then, that spammers have moved from junk calls to deluging us with spam texts. Spam texts have become the top mobile threat and the new frontier for fraud.
According to Robokiller (a popular phone app for blocking unwanted text messages) spammers are now sending out 19.5 billion robotexts per month! Cyber experts say American consumers lost $470 million to text scams last year.
Most text fraudsters use a technique called “smishing”. Smishing texts are SMS phishing scams where criminals send fraudulent text messages designed to trick recipients into revealing personal or financial information. These messages often mimic legitimate organizations and may claim an urgent issue like a deactivated account or an unpaid toll, prompting the recipient to click a link or call a number. By impersonating trusted entities and using social engineering tactics, smishing attacks aim to exploit fear or urgency to bypass critical thinking.
Common Types of Fraudulent Texts
According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, here are some of the most common types of smishing texts:
• “Fake delivery updates. You might get a message saying, “Your package is delayed. Update your delivery info here.” The link looks official, but the website is a scam.
• Bank or account alerts. These messages claim there’s suspicious activity on your account. They urge you to click a link or call a number to “verify” your information.
• Prize or giveaway scams. The text might read, “Congratulations! You’ve won a $1,000 gift card. Click to claim.”
• Impersonations of government agencies. Some texts pretend to be from the IRS, Social Security, or even law enforcement, demanding immediate payment or personal information. Another common scam is claiming you have an unpaid toll or traffic ticket.
• Job or money-making scams. Messages like “Make $500/day working from home. Apply now!” prey on people looking for work.
• Account verifications. You may get texts saying that your PayPal, Netflix, Amazon, or other account is locked. Often, the scammers will say you need to reset your password, and then they steal your real password when you enter it in their fake "Password Reset" form.”
How to Tell if a Text Message is Bogus
To determine if a text message is spam, watch for red flags like an unknown number, suspicious links, poor grammar, and offers that seem too good to be true. Legitimate businesses don't typically ask for personal information via text. Be especially suspicious of texts that express a sense of urgency which try to get you to take immediate action, like buying something, sharing information, making an account, or clicking a link. They may even threaten consequences for not doing so, which is a double red flag.
Declare “War” on Spam Texts
To combat spam texts, block the sender's number, report the spam to your carrier and the FTC, and consider using call and spam-filtering apps. Avoid clicking on links in suspicious messages and be mindful of the information you share online.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Block and report to your cellphone carrier:
Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM) to report them to your mobile carrier. This helps them identify and block spam operations.
2. Report to the FTC:
File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftd.gov.
3. If you're receiving unwanted commercial text messages, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
4. Be Proactive:
Think twice before sharing your number.
Enable spam filtering on your phone.
5. Consider a third-party blocking app.
CNet.com also says several third-party apps like Hiya, Nomorobo, YouMail, and RoboKiller offer robust call blocking and spam protection features for mobile devices.
6. Don’t engage with spammers.
Responding to a spam text, even with a simple "Hi," can signal to the sender that your number is active and valid.
7. Don't click on suspicious links.
8. Don’t provide personal, account, or financial information. Never give away sensitive details over the phone unless you know who you’re communicating with.
