Phishing is an online scam where fraudsters trick people into installing malware or giving away sensitive information by sending an email that appears to be from a legitimate source. However, with email spam filters getting better at preventing unwanted emails from reaching your inbox, smishing is on the rise.
Smishing, SMS (the short messaging service version of phishing) is very similar to phishing – except the deceptive message is delivered via text message. The method is gaining in popularity among scammers since people are more likely to respond to text messages (45%) than emails (6%).
The FCC reports that there were almost 12,000 smishing attempts reported in 2023. Fraudsters may send texts messages pretending to be:
- The government claiming you owe the IRS or a toll collection agency
- Your financial institution stating there is a problem with your account
- A shipper reporting an issue in delivering your package
- A text accidentally sent to a wrong number in hopes of striking up a conversation to earn your trust
How can you avoid falling victim to smishing?
- Never click links or reply to text messages from numbers you don't recognize
- Do not respond to text messages from numbers you do not recognize, not even with STOP to end future messages
- Delete any suspicious texts
- Update your smart device OS and security apps
- Install anti-malware software such as Norton or McAfee on your device
- Use multi-factor authentication to access personal information such as bank accounts and social media
If you believe that you have been a victim of smishing, you should contact law enforcement to report the scam. You can also file a complaint with the FCC at no cost.
Have additional questions? Please call or visit your Marine Bank banking center during business hours and we’ll be happy to assist you.