Scams are rampant not just in emails, but also in SMS. They’re getting more complex too, so identifying them now may not be as easy as it has been. For your protection, here are some quick tips on how to identify and avoid SMS scams.
Spam SMS
These are unsolicited messages that contain content that tempts you into clicking. It’s often a notification that you won a prize, or a surprise is being delivered your way. If it’s not familiar, or if it sounds too good to be true, chances are that it’s a scam.
Phishing SMS
These are messages that look like they came from a reputable brand or person, but are actually from scammers. They usually contain a link that asks for confidential information such as account password or bank PIN. You can tell they’re fake because the sender’s email address or the destination link is not verifiable.
SMS Originator Spoofing
These texts carry the name or number of a reputable brand or company. Scammers do this by changing the sender ID into any alphanumeric text. Thus, they can make an ordinary number look official. If you receive a suspicious message from an official-looking sender, it’s best to contact the purported sender and confirm whether they did send the text or not.
Check out the infographic How to Identify and Avoid SMS Scams to learn more.
