What is Smishing and how do I protect myself?

What is Smishing? Of course everyone knows that phishing is done via email. A scammer sends emails trying to obtain sensitive information such as your credit card information or name, or passwords.

The term "Smishing" therefore refers to phishing by SMS.

What is Smishing?

Smishing

To date, almost all scams phishing arrive via email. For example, someone may claim to be from your bank to ask you to provide your account information, or your credit card information.

Smishing is the SMS version for phishing scams. Instead of receiving a scammy email, you get a scammy text message on your smartphone.
"SMS" means "short message service" from "short message service" and is the technical term for the text messages you receive on your phone.

A new SMS scam is a perfect example of smishing. Lately too many have received text messages supposedly coming from FedEx. They contained a tracking code and a link to "set delivery preferences".

If someone clicks on this link on their phone, they will end up with a fake Amazon page. The site requests your credit card information.

It was just one example. An SMS scam could appear to come from your bank and ask you to provide login information.

SMS phishing is something new that we do not often encounter, and you should be on the lookout for scammy text messages, just as you do with malicious emails:

Check the source of the text message. For example, the message you received from Amazon may appear to be real. However, scammers can spoof the number of a text message.
Be careful of anything suspicious. If you receive a delivery notice from a new number and are not expecting anything, do not proceed. The alert is potentially suspicious.
Do not open links contained in SMS.
Avoid giving information if you open a link in a text message. For example, if you receive a "fraud alert" from your bank, do not touch the link in the message and log in. Go straight to your bank page or pick up the phone to find out the truth.
Do not send sensitive information.
Watch out for things that are "too good to be true", like any "gift" that needs your credit card number for some reason.
Do not download or install any software that is sent to you via text message or email.

iGuRu.gr The Best Technology Site in Greeceggns

Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox!















Written by giorgos

George still wonders what he's doing here ...

Leave a reply

Your email address is not published. Required fields are mentioned with *

Your message will not be published if:
1. Contains insulting, defamatory, racist, offensive or inappropriate comments.
2. Causes harm to minors.
3. It interferes with the privacy and individual and social rights of other users.
4. Advertises products or services or websites.
5. Contains personal information (address, phone, etc.).