SMiShing is not a new tactic. A form of phishing, SMiShing is an activity that involves someone attempting to trick you via text or SMS message. If the trick is successful, the individual will receive your critical personal information.
Did you know that there are approximately 913,242,000 texts sent every hour of every single day around the globe? This translates to roughly 15.2 million per minute. These messages are easy targets for cybercriminals who wish to steal personal information for monetary gain.
SMiShing occurs when a cybercriminal sends a text or SMS message to another individual requesting their personal information. Similar to attempts that occur via email, those who receive the text are more likely to trust this form of communication over an email.
In our recent video about SMiShing, we illustrated a story about individuals who were subjected to a text stating their account had shown suspicious activity. A link in the text led those who received the message to a phishing website that asked for their personal information. Unfortunately, the attack resulted in thousands of dollars being stolen by those who filled out the form online—most of which wasn’t returned or paid back by the bank.
However, some information a SMiSher might be looking for won’t necessarily be your bank account number. They might be phishing for something as simple as an online account password or something as serious as your Social Security Number. Cybercriminals will stop at nothing to gain access to your records. It’s critical to understand how to best avoid a SMiShing attack to keep your information safe.
Your first clue is receiving a text message from a number you don’t recognize. If you receive a text of this nature, read it carefully. These text messages could range from a simple link to a website or could be asking for specific personal information. They could ask you to verify your information for some reason or they could state you’ve won a contest that you never entered. Regardless of the message, no company or service would ever ask for personal information over a text.
There are some steps you can take to avoid being SMiShed. Above all, always remember that a message from a phone number you don’t recognize might be an attempt to phish you. Beyond that, here are multiple ways to avoid being the victim of a SMiShing attack.
It’s possible to fall for a phishing attempt if you’re unaware. To be prepared, ensure your bank offers a policy for protecting your assets, just in case. If it’s available through your email account, consider using two-step verification to help protect your email account information. Also, always be sure to change your account passwords often to keep your accounts secure. When choosing passwords, make them strong and avoid using any personal information that is easy to guess.
With any suspicious activity, it’s best to report to the FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center. This will ensure others are protected from phishing attempts in the same manner. Text messaging is a great way to communicate if you’re vigilant. To learn more about protecting yourself against SMiShing and other phishing attacks or to start protecting yourself today, try PhishProof, Inspired eLearning’s anti-phishing software.
The original version of this article was first published on Inspired eLearning.
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