{"id":12585,"date":"2025-05-02T16:50:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T11:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/?p=12585"},"modified":"2025-09-17T11:38:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T06:08:31","slug":"text-message-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Text Message Scams on the Rise: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \n            display: flex; \n            justify-content: center; \n            align-items: center; \n            padding: 12px 16px; \n            background: #f9fafb; \n            border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; \n            border-radius: 8px; \n            width: 100%; \n            margin: 20px 0; \n            gap: 10px; \n            text-align: center;\">\n\n  <span style=\"color: #111827; font-size: 16px; font-weight:600; white-space: nowrap;\">\n    This October \u2013 Learn, Compete, Secure with <span style=\"color:#183e8b;\">Cybersecurity Olympic<\/span>\n  <\/span>\n  \n  <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/threatcop.com\/cyber-security-awareness-month?utm_source=top-20-blogs&#038;utm_medium=social&#038;utm_campaign=blog-organic', '_blank')\" \n          style=\"padding: 6px 14px; \n                 background-color: #28a745; \n                 color: #fff; \n                 font-size: 14px; \n                 font-weight: 600; \n                 border: 2px solid #1e7e34; \n                 border-radius: 6px; \n                 cursor: pointer; \n                 box-shadow: 0 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); \n                 white-space: nowrap;\">\n    Know More\n  <\/button>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Have you received a text from a &#8220;delivery service&#8221; about a package you ordered? Or, a text that appeared to come from your &#8220;bank&#8221; about suspicious activity? If so, you may have been a victim of smishing- SMS phishing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (<\/span><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><a style=\"color: #333399;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2025\/04\/new-ftc-data-show-top-text-message-scams-2024-overall-losses-text-scams-hit-470-million\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FTC<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) said consumers lost $470 million in text message scams (that&#8217;s five times the 2020 amount). The FBI&#8217;s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) most recent Internet Crimes Complaint Report stated smishing continues to be one of the most reported cyber crimes.<\/span><\/span><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #414141;color:#414141\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #414141;color:#414141\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#What_is_Text_Message_Scams_Smishing\" >What is Text Message Scams (Smishing)?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#Smishing_by_the_Numbers_A_Rapidly_Growing_Threat\" >Smishing by the Numbers: A Rapidly Growing Threat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#How_to_Detect_a_Fake_Text_Message\" >How to Detect a Fake Text Message?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#What_Are_Some_Common_Text_Message_Scams_to_Be_Aware_Of\" >What Are Some Common Text Message Scams to Be Aware Of?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#What_Happens_If_You_Open_a_Text_from_a_Scammer\" >What Happens If You Open a Text from a Scammer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#Can_a_Scammer_Hack_My_Phone_If_I_Reply_to_a_Text\" >Can a Scammer Hack My Phone If I Reply to a Text?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#What_Should_You_Do_If_a_Scammer_Keeps_Texting_You\" >What Should You Do If a Scammer Keeps Texting You?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/text-message-scams\/#Recommendations_from_the_FTC_and_FBI\" >Recommendations from the FTC and FBI<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Text_Message_Scams_Smishing\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>What is Text Message Scams (Smishing)?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/smishing-awareness-and-simulation\">Smishing<\/a> is a scam that involves a spoofed text message, which appears to be from a legitimate source, where the scammers often threaten or rush the target into clicking the link or sending some type of personal information, before they have a chance to process what they are doing. The FBI called attention to smishing in the 2023 report, including demonstrating levels of smishing that were all new and still increasing. In 2021, thieves were sending false missed delivery text messages and all forms of false communications. They were pushing these false things that would consume significant amounts of your data.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Smishing_by_the_Numbers_A_Rapidly_Growing_Threat\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Smishing by the Numbers: A Rapidly Growing Threat<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The FTC has stated that <a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/smishing\/\">smishing<\/a> is now the fastest-growing type of fraud against consumers and that text messaging is now the primary method for scammers to reach consumers, as opposed to calls or emails. The FBI IC3 has indicated that these text message phishing scams often lead to identity theft or malware and that just clicking a link in a suspicious text could put users in great danger.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Year<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Text Scam Losses (FTC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Total Consumer Fraud Losses<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Notes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">2020<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">$90 million<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">$9.8 billion<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Pre-pandemic baseline<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">2022<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">$326 million<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">$10.2 billion<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Surge in smishing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">$470 million<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">$12.5 billion<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Smishing among top 3 threats<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Detect_a_Fake_Text_Message\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b><\/b><b>How to Detect a Fake Text Message?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reputable businesses and government entities are never going to ask for personal information through any sort of SMS message or text message. A message from them telling you to act now or asking you for personal information is likely a scam. You should always take a second to think, What am I being asked to do? Don&#8217;t click any links, and don&#8217;t reply to their text message scams. As stated in the FTC recommendations in the report, always verify requests by calling the business or agency directly using their confirmed contact information, email, or calling. (Not the contact information in the text message.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Unrecognized or Spoofed Number<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Legitimate companies utilize short codes or business phone numbers.&nbsp; Scammers can spoof these numbers or use a random-looking number.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sense of Urgency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">&#8220;Your bank account will be locked!&#8221; &#8220;Legal action pending!&#8221; They want you to panic and click.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Suspicious Links<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Look carefully; &#8220;wellsfargo.com&#8221; isn&#8217;t the same as &#8220;wells-fargo-secure123.biz.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Grammatical Errors<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Misspellings, odd spacing, and bad punctuation are all indicators of fraud.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Unsolicited Requests for Personal Data<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">No legitimate organization will ask for your password or Social Security number by text message.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!DOCTYPE html>\r\n<html lang=\"en\">\r\n\r\n<head>\r\n    <meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\r\n    <meta http-equiv=\"X-UA-Compatible\" content=\"IE=edge\">\r\n    <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\r\n    <title>Document<\/title>\r\n<\/head>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n    .interestedBtn {\r\n        width: 80% !important;\r\n        box-sizing: border-box !important;\r\n        display: inline-block !important;\r\n        padding: 11px !important;\r\n        border: 1px !important;\r\n        border-color: #ddd !important;\r\n        margin-top: 10px !important;\r\n        background-color: #183e8b !important;\r\n        background-image: none !important;\r\n        text-shadow: none !important;\r\n        color: #fff !important;\r\n        font-size: 14px !important;\r\n        line-height: 20px !important;\r\n        border-radius: 5px !important;\r\n        margin: 0 !important;\r\n        cursor: pointer !important;\r\n        box-shadow: 0px 4.66px 22.99px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10);;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n\r\n        .formSec .formSecTwo{\r\n            padding-top: 15px !important;\r\n            margin-bottom: 30px !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n\r\n    .tnp-email {\r\n        width: 80% !important;\r\n        box-sizing: border-box;\r\n        padding: 8px 10px;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n        border: 1px solid #ced4da;\r\n        background: #fff;\r\n        color: #000 !important;\r\n        font-size: 13px;\r\n        line-height: 20px;\r\n        border-radius: 2px;\r\n        padding-right: 30px;\r\n        margin-bottom: 0px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .formSec {\r\n        border: 1px solid #ced4da;\r\n        float: left !important;\r\n        width: 55% !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .mainBox {\r\n       \/* border: 1px solid #183e8b;*\/\r\n         background: white;\r\n        max-width: 600px !important;\r\n        margin: 0 auto !important;\r\n        padding: 20px !important;\r\n        font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .boxDiv {\r\n        display: flex !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .boxConsult {\r\n        float: left !important;\r\n        width: 45% !important;\r\n        padding: 10px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .formSecTwo {\r\n        text-align:center !important;\r\n        width: 100% !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .formHeading {\r\n        font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\r\n        margin-top: 0px;\r\n        font-weight: 700;\r\n        line-height: 25px;\r\n        font-size: 18px !important;\r\n        \r\n       margin-bottom: 60px !important;\r\n       color: #000!important;\r\n          margin-top: 5px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .fieldHeading {\r\n        margin: 0 !important;\r\n        font-size: 13px !important;\r\n        text-align: left !important;\r\n        margin: 0px 39px 2px 93px !important;\r\n        font-weight: 500 !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .image {\r\n        max-width:90% !important;\r\n        height: auto !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n     .email-icon {\r\n            position: absolute;\r\n            right: 50px;\r\n             top: 20px;\r\n            transform: translateY(-50%);\r\n            pointer-events: none; \r\n        }\r\n\r\n          .email-container{\r\n             position: relative;\r\n         \r\n        }\r\n       \r\n\r\n        .email-icon img{\r\n                 width: 15px;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n\r\n         input::placeholder {\r\n            color:#495057;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n\r\n     ::placeholder {\r\n        color: #495057;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n        ::-ms-input-placeholder { \r\n          color:#495057;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n\r\n        input:-webkit-autofill {\r\n            background-color: transparent !important;\r\n            -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 0px 1000px white inset !important; \r\n            box-shadow: 0 0 0px 1000px white inset !important;\r\n            color: #495057 !important; \r\n        }\r\n\r\n        \r\n        input {\r\n            color:#495057 !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n\r\n    @media screen and (max-width: 480px) {\r\n        .boxDiv {\r\n            display: block !important;\r\n            padding: 15px !important;\r\n         \r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .image{\r\n        width: 80% !important;\r\n         margin-bottom: 14px;\r\n        }\r\n        .fieldHeading {\r\n            text-align: left !important;\r\n            margin: unset !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .boxConsult {\r\n            width: unset !important;\r\n            float: none !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .mainBox {\r\n            border: unset !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .formSec {\r\n            float: unset !important;\r\n            width: 100% !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .formSecTwo {\r\n            text-align: center !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .tnp-email {\r\n            width: 90% !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .formHeading {\r\n            margin-bottom: unset !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n         .email-icon {\r\n            position: absolute;\r\n            right: 25px;\r\n            top: 58%;\r\n            transform: translateY(-50%);\r\n            pointer-events: none; \/* Make sure the icon doesn't block clicking on the input *\/\r\n        }\r\n       \r\n        .email-container{\r\n             position: relative;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<body>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"mainBox\" box-sizing:=\"\" border-box;=\"\">\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"boxDiv\">\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"boxConsult\">\r\n                <div>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"formHeading\" style=\" font-size: 16px !important;\">\r\n                        Book a Free Demo Call with Our People Security Expert<\/h3>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/awareness.threatcop.ai\/threatcop_blog\/form.svg\" class=\"image\">\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"formSec\">\r\n                <div class=\" formSecTwo\">\r\n                    <h4 style=\"margin-top: 0; font-size: 16px !important;\">Enter your details<\/h4>\r\n                    <div class=\"tnp tnp-subscription-minimal\">\r\n                        <form action=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/thankyou-blog\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n                            <div class=\"email-container\" style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n\r\n                                <input class=\"tnp-email\" type=\"text\" required=\"\" name=\"FullName\" value=\"\"\r\n                                    placeholder=\"Full Name\">\r\n                                    <span class=\"email-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/awareness.threatcop.ai\/threatcop_blog\/icon01.svg\" class=\"img-fluid\" \/><\/span>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"email-container\" style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n                               \r\n                                <input class=\"tnp-email\" type=\"email\" required=\"\" name=\"email\" value=\"\"\r\n                                    placeholder=\"Corporate Email Id\">\r\n                                     <span class=\"email-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/awareness.threatcop.ai\/threatcop_blog\/icon02.svg\" class=\"img-fluid\" \/><\/span>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"email-container\" style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n                               \r\n                                <input class=\"tnp-email\" type=\"text\" required=\"\" name=\"CompanyName\" value=\"\"\r\n                                    placeholder=\"Company Name\">\r\n                                    <span class=\"email-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/awareness.threatcop.ai\/threatcop_blog\/icon03.svg\" class=\"img-fluid\" \/><\/span>\r\n\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"email-container\">\r\n                               \r\n                                <input class=\"tnp-email\" type=\"number\" required=\"\" name=\"Phone\" value=\"\"\r\n                                    placeholder=\"Phone No.\"><br>\r\n                                    <span class=\"email-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/awareness.threatcop.ai\/threatcop_blog\/icon04.svg\" class=\"img-fluid\" \/><\/span>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"BlogForm\" value=\"BlogForm\"><br>\r\n                            <input class=\"tnp-submit interestedBtn\" name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\"\r\n                                value=\"SUBMIT\">\r\n\r\n                        <\/form>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/body>\r\n\r\n<\/html>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Some_Common_Text_Message_Scams_to_Be_Aware_Of\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>What Are Some Common Text Message Scams to Be Aware Of?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scammers regularly pose as a trusted service, including banks and delivery services, to create a sense of need or urgency. They will instruct you to forward the message or click links, and they can build almost identical scams from the real ones, according to the FBI. A more recent scam is QR codes, which are frequently used in text messages to get you to a spoof website and steal your data (this is a ming growing threat that many people do not know about). These are dangerous examples of text message phishing scams.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Common Smishing Tactics:&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Fake Package Delivery Notifications:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8220;Your item failed delivery &#8211; click here to reschedule.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Banking Notifications: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;There is suspicious activity on your account &#8211; please verify your account now.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Government Impersonation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8220;This is the IRS. Your refund has been suspended. Please update your information here.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Prize or Lotto Scams:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8220;Congratulations!&nbsp; We have some exciting news to share.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">You have won a $1,000 Amazon gift card! Claim it now!&#8221;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Subscription Renewal Scams:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8220;Your Netflix subscription has expired. Click here to update your details.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Underrated Smishing Tactics:&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/what-is-qr-phishing\/\">QR codes<\/a> Smishers often will use QR codes in their messages so that they can point to fake websites that can be scanned.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Group Text Spam Group text spam attempts to avoid spam filtering by sending a text to a recipient in a group of recipients.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">SIM Swap Scams SIM swap scams can give scammers the ability to take over your actual phone number by submitting a bogus request to your carrier.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Happens_If_You_Open_a_Text_from_a_Scammer\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>What Happens If You Open a Text from a Scammer?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">If you followed the URL link to the site, you ended up at a fake website, which was probably intended to steal the credentials that you entered or install malware on your phone. The FBI states that this can lead to financial information theft, identity theft, or the scammer gaining remote access to your device and recording your activities. Just opening up the text does not put you at risk, but acting upon it could put you at risk.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">By replying to a scam text message, you have now confirmed to the scammer that your number is active, and you will be subjected to spam and scam attempts going forward. If you engage more with these types of messages, there is a high chance that you will be trapped again later on.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_Scammer_Hack_My_Phone_If_I_Reply_to_a_Text\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Can a Scammer Hack My Phone If I Reply to a Text?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In response to a scam text, not only will you perhaps become a target for spam texts, but you may not realize that there is a major difference: malware. Some scams include links within their scam email or text that, once clicked, will download malware onto your phone immediately or direct you to a harmful website. The FBI&#8217;s Cyber Division has recognized an increase in <a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/scareware-attack\/\">scammers using malware<\/a> to hijack devices to steal personal information or access other apps, like banking and email apps.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Some scams could be SIM swap scams. This swindler will try to take over your phone number (e.g., tricking your cell provider into sending them a SIM card) &#8211; This is not a direct result of responding to a scam text message (although it can happen if the scam begins with some of your personal information). The FBI report states that if your carrier has a PIN or password procedure set up, it could help prevent you from becoming a victim of a SIM swap situation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Should_You_Do_If_a_Scammer_Keeps_Texting_You\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>What Should You Do If a Scammer Keeps Texting You?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">When you block and report a scam text, you also help to ward off scammers from potentially targeting the same individuals as you. Your mobile service provider will be able to track the original source of the message and take action against it. The Federal Trade Commission encourages consumers to take action against these scams that allow legal representatives to go after fraudsters. Some phones even have an automatic spam option that will detect calls and potential scams!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>You can follow the suggestions below:<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Do not engage in suspicious texts.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Block the number from your phone.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Report the message to your mobile carrier by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Utilize security apps to automatically filter spam messages.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommendations_from_the_FTC_and_FBI\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Recommendations from the FTC and FBI<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">FTC:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always report smishing to <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/reportfraud.ftc.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reportfraud.ftc.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Do not respond to scam text messages.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Use spam filters and anti-virus software.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">FBI (IC3):<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Upgrade software and firmware.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Distinguish between unexpected hyperlinks.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Collect and report suspicious text messages, regardless of loss.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Conclusion:&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The best way to guard against text message scams is vigilance. Scammers like to get you busy, distracted, and trusting. If you remain vigilant and utilize the correct tools, you&#8217;ll be much less vulnerable. Make it a point to always report suspicious texts to the FTC and to your carrier, and you should definitely alert others, especially those in vulnerable categories.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">If you need more ideas on how to protect yourself, take a look at the official sites of the FTC or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Both sites have useful information about text message scams and how to report fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This October \u2013 Learn, Compete, Secure with Cybersecurity Olympic Know More Have you received a text from a &#8220;delivery service&#8221; about a package you ordered? Or, a text that appeared to come from your &#8220;bank&#8221; about suspicious activity? If so, you may have been a victim of smishing- SMS phishing. In 2024, the Federal Trade [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,42],"tags":[352],"class_list":["post-12585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyber-attacks","category-cybersecurity-awareness","tag-text-message-scams"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Text Message Scams on the Rise: What You Need to Know<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Smishing, or SMS phishing, is one of the fastest-growing cyber crimes. 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