Text messages may seem harmless enough, but scammers can use them to steal your money and information. They can even impersonate someone you know.
Scams are constantly changing and can be difficult to spot. Some are tried and true, while others are a new twist on old themes. Here are a few tips to help you stay away from them.
They request for personal or financial information
Some text scams will ask for your personal information such as your Social Security number or credit card number. Others pretend to come from a family member or friend in an emergency and ask for money. These messages often include suspicious language or links, which could install malware on your device or take you to a fake website that tries to steal your information. If you suspect you are a victim of these scams contact www.refundee.com/chase-bank to recover your money.
Scammers take advantage of the speed and urgency of texting, encouraging you to respond instantly. Don’t send money or give your banking details if you are tempted. These texts are social engineering designed to make people act without thinking. If a text claims to be from a loved one, call them or reach out through another method. If you have any questions, contact your loved one directly and notify your wireless carrier.
The FTC reports that the most common type of phony text scam is a message claiming to be from a bank. It creates an urgency by asking for you to verify large transactions that you didn’t authorize. They may also claim that your account is compromised and request your personal information including passwords.
Other types of phony text scams are requests for refunds or charges on your phone service, as well as fraudulent messages that say someone in your family is in danger and needs your help. These texts are effective because they often convey a sense urgency and fear.
Never click any links or dial numbers from a message. Instead, call a phone number for the business that is listed on its website or find a customer support number for that company on your own.
They are accompanied by a phone call
Scam texts often pretend to come from a reputable business or government. Some of these texts are a call to action, which if clicked on will redirect you to a phishing website where you may be asked for personal information or to confirm your identity. Some messages claim you owe money or have been overcharged for service. Some of these messages are spelled incorrectly or have poor grammar, which is a sign of a scam.
If you receive a spam text message from a familiar number, don’t respond or click on any links. Instead, use a search engine to find out the real name and contact number of the company that supposedly sent the text. You should also notify your telecommunications company so that they can block the number.
These scams are dangerous, even though many people hesitate to respond. They can result in lost money or expose your personal information to scammers. They can ruin credit and lead you to identity theft.
Common scams
There are many types of scam texts, but they try to trick the recipient into giving out personal information or clicking an attached link. This information can be used to commit identity theft or defraud you, and it can also install malware on your phone. You should not respond to these texts and be aware of the ways they can be detected.
Messages can pretend to be from a well known company, like your phone provider or a major retailer. They may tell you that you have won a prize or gift card, or say that there’s an issue with your order. You may be told that your account was compromised and that someone is trying steal money.
These texts are intended to create an urgency and have a fake call-to-action. They can also pretend that they are from a legitimate company, such as a banking institution. These details are used to get you to act quickly before the scammers can take advantage of good intentions.
The most common type of scam text is a phishing attempt, and it’s often called “smishing.” It attempts to trick you into revealing your password or other information via SMS. The scam text usually includes a hyperlink that takes you to a website which looks real but is a fake. This fake site can collect login credentials and access to multiple accounts. Smishing began as a phone scam and an email scam. Recently, it has been added to a list of SMS scams.
Scam texts can also ask for passwords to your online accounts, or for you to verify a suspicious transaction. These scams can also lead to unwanted charges on your cell phone bill. The best way to protect yourself from these scams is to be vigilant and always check your bank statements for unauthorized transactions.
You can filter text messages on your iPhone or Android and block suspicious phone calls. This will help you to avoid scams in the future and save you time. Scamwatch can be notified of any suspicious texts, and will ensure they don’t reach other users. Telcos also work on new filters to intercept SMS scams before they reach their customers.
Be aware
While it isn’t a scam to open a text message, you should be aware that spam texts can contain malware. Senders can hack into your phone by clicking on a link, or replying to a text message. Replying to a scam text can also result in unwanted charges being added to your cell phone bill. It’s important to report all suspicious texts to your mobile carrier and to avoid clicking any links in the messages.
Although many people believe that text scams are more common than phone or e-mail scams, consumers must always be careful when they receive unexpected texts from unknown numbers. These scams may appear to be from banks or other service providers, and they may ask you to call them back to solve a problem or to win a prize. This is known as “smishing,” a mashup of SMS (short messaging service) and phishing.
Text message scams can come in many forms. However, the most common ones involve money or personal data. Some are designed to look like notifications from a company, such as FedEx, and ask you to transfer funds or provide personal details in order to receive a package. Others may try to trick you into handing over your personal information by pretending to be from a government agency, such as the IRS or Social Security.
Aside from scams that target your money, other texting scams can also target your personal information and identity. These include texting scams that ask you to provide your passwords or account information, as well as texting scams that pretend to be from a shipping service, such as Amazon.
Texting is more intimate than email or phone calls, and can make scams harder to detect. Many people ignore them because they can contain inappropriate and lewd content. Nevertheless, some users do not realize that these types spam text messages can cause infection or even financial loss.