Beware of the phenomenon ofblaring“, that is, SMS scams. In fact, more and more people are falling for the scam, a sign that the problem is real and that you need to pay attention to the messages you receive on your phone.
Smishing: what does it mean?
The word smishing is nothing more than a new form of phishingwhere the cybercriminal on duty uses SMS to trick the victim into clicking on a link and/or submitting sensitive data such as financial information, passwords or credit card numbers.
The name derives from the union of words SMS and phishing or smishing.
Why texting
Smishing has become widespread lately. There? Just think that SMS remains one of the ways of communication most used. We are talking about 2,022 text messages sent per month and 1,831 text messages received by young people aged 18 to 24. A very large hunting ground.
In addition, people are now aware of the risk of email fraud, although they still pay little attention to it Messages.
Cell phones are no more secure than computers
One often makes the mistake of assuming one’s own smart phone safer than computers. In reality, this isn’t quite the case and it would be good to be careful when using either device.
THE cybercriminals they are also increasingly specializing in phone fraud. Malware can easily target Android devices, but with smishing it is possible to attack on all platforms. Although mobile technology has made tremendous strides in terms of security, there is currently no way to protect yourself from SMS scams.
even there Diversion with which we often operate on the go can pose a risk. Basically, it’s easier to accidentally click on a link.
The most common baits
The hacker therefore sends a scam message that arrives via SMS and not email. People receive real text messages without realizing the danger at first. For example, the cybercriminal can pose as a representative of Bank, and persuading the victim to access an alleged banking institution’s website, for example to verify a charge. However, sometimes we talk about compromised accounts that need to be verified.
But we don’t always talk about banks. Sometimes criminals send messages asking for money charity to help the population affected by hurricanes or other severe weather. Unsuspecting individuals are asked to click on the link provided via SMS and enter their credit card details, often along with their tax number. At this point the trap kicks in.
Also, beware of instant messaging apps
While not properly included in smishing, it’s also good to point out programs instant messages such as Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp are not risk-free. Hackers can strike here too, so be careful before opening suspicious messages and replying to strangers.
What cybercriminals want
The goal of the criminals is always one thing: to take possession of the victim’s money. The criminals try to get supplies via SMS sensitive data, such as bank account or credit card numbers. They can convince unsuspecting people to download special malware, possibly disguised as applications, to get what they want. Or they use links that lead to fake sites where they are asked to enter personal information. In this way, hackers can even hit the companies that employ the victims.
How to defend yourself
At this point the question arises: how protect yourself? Very often, the best weapon against this type of scam is to do nothing, ie not to reply to certain messages, not to download anything, not to connect to any website.
We always keep in mind that no bank will ever send an SMS to their customer to ask, for example, for an update of the account information or confirmation of the ATM code. With such reports it is always good before taking any action, if in doubt to contact by telephone to your credit institution with a request for confirmation.
Another tip is not to store any sensitive data on your smartphone. Data can easily be stolen via malware. Also, it’s good to be suspicious of all those obviously fake numbers that carry numbers like 5000.
Always report
Finally, remember that smishing, like phishing, is one of the crimes of fraud and as such must be reported to the competent authorities. It is possible to contact the postal police who have a special form. If you suspect data theft, it is advisable to contact your bank immediately.