Beware of Smishers! Protect yourself from Cell Phone Scams

I read an article today about a scam where you get an automated voice mail on your cell phone saying ‘your bank account has been compromised’.  This made me research the subject more and this is what I have found out:

SMiShing is a close cousin of phishing that uses text messages on cellphones and smartphones instead of e-mails. The name comes from SMS (Short Message Service), which is text messaging technology  There are two main types of Smishing scams:

1. You receive a text or an automated voicemail message that seems to come from a trusted source, like your bank or credit card company. The message is usually about something urgent -- your credit card has been stolen, for example, or your account has been frozen -- and instructs you to go to a certain Web site or call a phone number to verify your account information. The thieves on the receiving end then use your information to steal money from your account or open new credit cards in your name.
2. You receive a text, again from a seemingly legitimate contact with another urgent request, that contains an attachment. The attachment downloads a virus or malware that allows the scammers to access everything on your phone -- and possibly even control it.

Protecting Yourself From Smishing

Internet scammers are very good at making e-mails and texts look authentic. The fake text from your "bank" could look exactly like the real thing, so there might be no immediate indication that something's amiss. Take a look at the sender's phone number, though. If it's "unknown" or blocked, that's a dead giveaway that things aren't right -- most of these scams are perpetrated with random dialing programs. But sometimes the Smishers will use stolen customer phone numbers from a bank or other financial institution, and it might look like the sender is in your area code.

Here are some steps to take to protect against Smishing

• If a text message looks even remotely suspicious, delete it right away without reading it.
• Never reply to or follow the instructions of a text that asks you for personal information. A legitimate business will never ask you to reveal your account number, user name, password or full Social Security number over the phone or online.
• If you're not sure the message really is from your phone's service provider, for instance, type the company's URL in your browser instead of clicking on the link or attachment. Call the customer service number listed on its Web site instead of using the number provided in the text.
• Use a credit card if you're shopping online on your smartphone. You can always dispute charges if your phone becomes infected and someone makes unauthorized charges to your card.
• Bottom line, use common sense: If something seems shady, it probably is.

Smishing is getting more and more dangerous with the increased popularity of mobile banking. People use their phones for everything these days, and if you bank or conduct financial transactions on your cellphone or smartphone, you've got a lot of sensitive information at risk if it's exposed to malware or spyware.

Until security measures for mobile devices are improved, take our advice: Stay away from suspicious-looking texts, and hopefully the SMiShers will stay away from you.

 

 

Regards,

Christine Selzler

 

  Christine Selzler - Realtor®
Realty International LLC 
 

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