Every user has at least once in their life received an unwanted text message promising a prize, a free cruise or a particularly convenient electricity rate. These are scam SMS sent by criminals to try to steal personal data, even reaching their victims’ savings. This type of message is also called smishing, meaning SMS phishing. They may seem easy to manage – explains Panda Security – a company specializing in security, but just clicking on the wrong link can lose large amounts of money; as 2020 data shows: 86 million euros were stolen via an SMS scam.
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They usually contain a link to a fraudulent site as similar as possible to the original and structured in such a way as to record the data that the unsuspecting user enters. Other SMS scams try to get attention with promises of big wins or profits, such as cash prizes or gift cards from famous brands. There are many ways this fraud is perpetrated, but the goal is always the same: sensitive data and money.
Also Read: How Scammers Catch Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
No, it’s not enough to “open” or read the spam or phishing message; you need to click on the link or attachment and enter your data on a fraudulent site (or download malware without realizing it). Scams can vary greatly, so it’s helpful to know the main ones to identify common elements and highlight what hackers leverage to deceive recipients. Here are six examples of threats:
Most scam SMS contains some easily identifiable elements that can help users recognize them:
The number of SMS scams, spam, and smishing messages is rising, so it’s important to learn how to identify them and know what to do to protect yourself. Another defense is the ability to filter messages and calls through your smartphone based on the number and caller ID.
Activate the block from the phone settings so if the ID matches one of those on the blocklist of the phone manufacturer or your telephone operator, the incoming call or spam SMS will be blocked. It is important to pay attention to the telltale signs highlighted and to trust your intuition: if a message is suspicious, it is almost certainly fraudulent.
Also Read: Online Scam Report: How To Do It
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