Smishing or SMS phishing is about sending fake text messages claiming that the owner of the phone has won a free product or needs to enter information to correct an account mistake. Within the text message, there is a malicious URL link that lures the person into clicking the link or a fake phone number. After the user has clicked the link, that is when the hacking starts.
They may request:
- Credit card information
- Account passwords
- Account information
- Other valuable information
Tips to Prevent Becoming a Victim:
1: Avoid clicking on any messages with links.
2: Do not reply to text messages that have asked you about any of your personal finances.
3: Call the business phone number that you know to see if it is a legitimate request before responding.
4: If the text message urges for a quick reply then that is a clear sign of Smishing! Don’t Respond!
5: Never call back a phone number that was associated with the text that concerns you.
6: Delete the fraudulent message.