What is Smishing?
Smishing, Vishing, and Phishing…Oh My!
To help you prevent fraud, we’re continuing to equip you with knowledge to help fend off smishing, vishing, and phishing attacks. Today, we’re covering smishing – what it is and prevention measures.
What is Smishing?
Smishing is a type of phishing where scammers send fake text messages to trick people into sharing sensitive personal information such as bank account details or login credentials.
How To Help Prevent Smishing Attacks:
1. Block Spam Numbers: Most smartphones allow you to block specific phone numbers. If you receive smishing messages from a particular number, block it to prevent further attempts.
2. Report Suspicious Messages: If you receive a smishing attempt, report it to the appropriate authorities. Many organizations, such as banks and mobile service providers, have specific contacts for reporting fraudulent activity. It’s also a good idea to forward the text to SPAM (7726) and to report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. Validate Suspicious Texts: If you receive a message claiming to be from a legitimate organization such as your bank or a government agency, contact the organization directly. Check a recent statement or search the company’s website for contact information and call or email them to confirm whether the text is legitimate.
Learn more at the federal communications commission’s website