10 Ways on How to Avoid Smishing

Smishing is a combination of the words SMS and phishing. Smishing is a kind of scam wherein attackers use text messages to mislead victims into sharing sensitive information or encourage them to give away money. Cybercriminals pose as a trusted person or organization to dupe the victim into clicking on links or calling a specific number. Once the target responds and follows these directions, it provides robbers access to delicate data, such as bank account login information.

Thousands of people fall victim, and billions are lost due to Smishing. Everyone is now using mobile devices and communicates through SMS or apps. It makes Smishing a viable method for criminals to victimize people with various modus. Bank smishing is the most profitable attack for cybercriminals as they play with the fear of the victims that their accounts are being hacked. It is vital to know how to avoid Smishing to ensure the safety of your data and avoid becoming victims.

The ten ways on how to avoid Smishing are listed below.

1. Don’t answer

2. Take it More Slowly if a Message is Urgent

3. Contact your bank or retailer directly.

4. Use no links or contact information in the message

5. Verify the telephone number.

6. Decide never to store credit card information on your phone.

7. Put multi-factor authentication to use (MFA).

8. Never text your account recovery code or password.

9. Install a malware-detecting app.

10. Notify the appropriate authorities of any SMS phishing efforts.

1. Don’t answer

Don’t answer or reply to text messages even if you receive one saying, “Text Stop to stop receiving messages.” If you respond to the scam number, you may receive more spam text messages on your phone. The same may be true of calling the number. Scammers are frequently unaware if the numbers they’re utilizing are presently active. By responding to the message, you are only verifying that your number is active and leading the scammers to believe they can continue sending messages- which will increase the number of scam messages you receive.

The most effective way to deal with this issue is to block the number. Unfortunately, not all phones come with phone blocking software installed. If your phone does not have this capability, you might need to download a number-blocking app from your phone’s app store.

2. Take it More Slowly if a Message is Urgent

Always approach urgent account updates and limited-time offers with care and caution. Cybercriminals take advantage of people’s anxiety by pressuring them with a sense of urgency. They use scare tactics to make their victims act fast without thinking twice.

Scammers do this by spoofing the sender ID on a text message, so it looks like it’s coming from your bank or another trusted institution. The message will often say that there’s been suspicious activity on your account or that you must confirm your identity. It will then provide a link or phone number to call.

When you see these messages, take a step back and consider whether the message is genuinely urgent. If it is, call the customer service number on the back of your card or on the institution’s website to speak with a representative. Don’t use the number or link provided in the message.

3. Contact your bank or retailer directly.

If you doubt the legitimacy of the message you receive purporting to be your bank or another organization, don’t hesitate to contact customer service yourself. Many smishing messages will pretend to be well-known companies, such as stores or banks. If you believe the message is a scam, look up that company’s customer service number instead of calling or texting the scam number from its official website. If you receive a suspicious text, give the company a call to inquire about it. If they confirm that the message was not sent from them, go ahead and delete it.

When you call, verify the customer service representative’s identity. Scammers are clever and may trick you into thinking they’re legitimate representatives. Don’t give out any personal information, such as your account number or Social Security number, unless you are confident you’re speaking with a legitimate representative.

4. Use no links or contact information in the message

Don’t click on any links in a text message, even if the sender appears legitimate. Smishing involves emotional manipulation that may be used in all sorts of ways. Scammers don’t always need you to openly provide passwords, pins, or social security numbers. All they have to do sometimes is intrigue you enough to get you to click on a link and download a virus to your phone.

If you click on a smishing link, your phone is likely already infected. Similar to how these viruses want to stay hidden, you may not realize that your phone has been affected. Some telltale signs include phone heating up excessively, unsuspecting memory use, and pop-up messages when using your browser.

A virus on your phone could be logging keystrokes and stealing private information without you even realizing it, making the smishing scam successful.

5. Verify the telephone number.

If you receive a message and you feel that it might be a potential smishing scam, search for the sender’s number or the number mentioned in the message using your mobile browser. Numbers previously used for smishing are likely to be reported, and you will find them listed on scam websites. If you believe someone is trying to scam you, don’t just rely on one opinion. Look for evidence by checking to see if other people have had similar experiences.

Some sites list spam and robocall numbers, such as 800notes.com and whocalled.us. Enter the number to see if anyone else has reported it as a spam call. It will help identify smishing scams and other types of scams.

6. Decide never to store credit card information on your phone.

While storing your credit card information on your phone may be more convenient, it’s also riskier. If you keep your credit card number on your phone and your phone is lost or stolen, a thief could access your account and make unauthorized charges. The same goes for storing banking information on your phone.

If you must store this information on your device, use a secure app that requires a password, pin, or fingerprint authentication. Don’t store this information in your phone’s notes app or your browser’s autofill feature.

7. Put multi-factor authentication to use (MFA).

Multi-factor authentication is an extra security layer used to verify your identity. You’ll need more than just a password to log in with MFA. You might also need a code that’s sent to your phone or generated by an app. Or, you might need to use a physical token, such as a USB key.

An exposed password may be ineffective if the account being attacked requires a second “key” for verification. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the most popular form of MFA, which is often delivered through a text message code. Using a dedicated app to verify your identity (like Google Authenticator) is a more secure option.

8. Never text your account recovery code or password.

If you receive a text message that asks for your account recovery code or password, do not reply. It is a phishing scam known as vishing. The scammers are trying to trick you into giving them access to your account.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) recovery codes for passwords and text message two-factor authentication are vulnerable to theft in the wrong hands. Never share this information with anyone; only use it in established locations.

9. Install a malware-detecting app.

There are many different malware-detecting apps available for both Android and iOS devices. These apps help protect your device from smishing scams and other malware attacks.

Look for an app that offers real-time protection, which will scan apps as installed. The app should also have the ability to check websites for malicious content. Some apps will even let you know if a website is known to be unsafe before you visit it.

10. Notify the appropriate authorities of any SMS phishing efforts.

Always report smishing scams to the appropriate authorities. In the United States, you can report smishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

You should also contact your cell phone carrier if you receive a suspicious text message. They may be able to block future texts from that number.

What is Smishing?

“Smishing” is derived from the words “SMS” (short message service, commonly known as texting) and “phishing.” To put it another way, smishing has been defined as a social engineering attack targeting people’s trust rather than technical vulnerabilities.

Cybercriminals “phish” by sending fraudulent emails that seek to lure the receiver into clicking on a harmful link. Text messages are substituted for an email in smishing. There are two popular methods criminals use to steal data in smishing – the use of malware or through malicious websites.

A smishing URL is a malicious link that tricks you into downloading malware or software that installs itself onto your phone. This SMS-based malware might look like a legitimate app, but it will trick you into typing in confidential information and sending it to cyber criminals. At the same time, links in a smishing message lead to fake websites that urge users to input their data.

In short, these cybercriminals steal your personal information to commit fraud or other digital crimes. Often, this includes stealing money – yours or your company’s.

Why should you Avoid Smishing?

Being cautious and taking steps to avoid falling victim to smishing is crucial. Smishing is on the rise. In 2019, there was a 250% increase in smishing scams from the previous year. And it’s only getting worse. The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed cybercriminals to exploit people’s fears and confusion surrounding the outbreak.

Smishing has serious real-world consequences. A successful smishing attack leads to losing money, sensitive data, and your identity.

Devices that are unsuspectingly infected with malware due to accidental clicks on a smishing link are used in botnets. It is a computer network controlled by cybercriminals to carry out malicious activities, such as launching DDoS attacks or sending spam emails.

Malware spreads quickly when more people unwittingly click on malicious links. The more devices in a botnet, the more damage it can cause. You might unwittingly share your contact information with criminals and lead them to victimize your friends and other members of the family.

What to do if you are a Smishing Victim?

Take immediate action if you believe you have clicked on a fraudulent link and given away private information. To start, change all passwords that are connected to the exposed information.

Contact the real firm you believed you were texting with to let them know what happened. Also, ensure your phone has been malware scanned to ensure that no harmful code was downloaded onto it by the link. Malwarebytes and Avast Antivirus are two excellent malware removal applications.

The most important thing to do if you think your bank or credit card information has been compromised is to contact the bank or credit card company. Tell them about the suspected fraud and cancel the card associated with that account. You may also request the bank to freeze your credit cards to prevent further damage.

Monitor your accounts for suspicious login and other activities. Doing these steps helps protect you after a smishing attack. And reporting it keeps other people from falling victim to such activities.

What are the Types of Smishing Attacks?

It is almost impossible to create a comprehensive list of SMS smishing because this method of fraud continues to evolve. However, seven distinct categories of SMS phishing employ comparable methods of attack and deception. These types of smashing attacks are listed in the table below.

Is Smishing Dangerous?

Yes. Smishing is a dangerous form of phishing that leads to identity theft, financial loss, and the installation of malware on your mobile device. Smishing scams are difficult to spot because they often use the same logo and branding as the company they’re impersonating. They may also spoof the phone number of a legitimate company, making it appear in your caller ID.

Learning the signs and how to avoid falling victim to these attacks is crucial.