Understanding Smishing

Text scam comes in various forms. Scammers use techniques to trick recipients into sharing personal information or clicking on links that can compromise their devices or data. Here are some of the common tactics:

• Prize or gift scams: Scammers inform recipients that they have won a cash prize, a free vacation, or a valuable item. They may ask for personal information or instruct victims to pay a processing fee to claim their prize. Remember, legitimate contests DO NOT require payment for claiming prizes.
  

• Fake banking alerts: Beware of alarming verification or deactivation SMS with links. If the link redirects you to a login page, think twice! It might be the smishers trying to steal your login credentials. Banks or financial institutions do not process such services and WILL NEVER ASK for your information via text messages.
  

• Job proposals: Stay vigilant on social messaging apps, too. Online job proposals are making rounds that promise high pay with minimal effort or qualifications. Legitimate job offers follow a proper onboarding process and will never ask for sensitive information like bank account details or request document submissions via text or social media.
  

• Charity scams: Taking advantage of people’s generosity, scammers impersonate charitable organizations, requesting donations for a cause. Before making any donations, verify the legitimacy of the organization through trusted sources.

#LetsBeatFraud

It’s time we all become savvy to these scams and make conscious efforts to protect our personal information and hard-earned money. Awareness is the key to preventing smishing attacks from winning. After all, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.

We previously shared tips to avoid getting phished. Aside from the 3-step process, think, verify, report, it’s also important to take extra precautions:

1. Don’t share personal information with suspicious email senders.
2. Avoid clicking on links and attachments from unknown sources.
3. Change your passwords regularly and make them unique.
4. Be careful about what you share online.
5. Keep your devices’ security features updated.
6. Use Multi-factor Authentication for added security.

See full tips here.

Scams continue to pose a significant risk for all of us. But we don’t have to be victims of these deceitful schemes. Let’s stay one step ahead by staying updated and aware of the evolving text scam landscape. If you encounter a text scam, report and share it to the appropriate authorities or your mobile service provider. Your experience can save your family and friends from falling into financial scam traps. Together, #LetsBeatFraud!

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