Phishing by Phone: Swipe Left to Delete

Text message scams, also known as “smishing,” are becoming increasingly more common and convincing by the day. With just a single tap, scammers can blast thousands, if not millions, of fake texts to random phone numbers. Here is what you need to know about text scams to keep your personal information out of the hands of a scammer.

What is Smishing? Smishing is a type of phishing scam that uses SMS text messages to trick people into sharing personal information, clicking malicious links, or downloading harmful software.

The Average Scammer’s Talking Points These fake text messages range from a variety of topics. Whether it’s delivery updates via postal service or other mail services, suspicious bank login attempts, toll road fees, lottery winnings, or false two-factor authentication scam texts, their goal remains the same. To catch you off guard and get you to act before you can think.

Leave Them on Delivered

Melani Abel, the Frandsen Bank & Trust senior vice president, director of risk management, recommends, “Treat scam texts like a bad match on a dating app. A scammer is no different than someone in your inbox who has said 'hey' in 10 different ways. You don’t owe them a response. Leave those unwanted scam texts on delivered, swipe left, delete, and move on.”

It’s Not Ghosting, It’s Protecting Yourself

Don’t respond; even the most minimal communication with a scammer can put you at risk. It is recommended to ignore, report, and delete fake, malicious texts. Forward scam texts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Whatever You Do, Do Not Click on Links

These links will send you to phishing websites that could infect your phone with malware that allows the scammer to steal your personal information.

Text scams are just one of many ways scammers try to steal personal information. Staying alert and apprehensive toward unusual text messages can help protect you from falling victim.