Text message scams, or smishing, are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it harder to tell if a message is real or fake. More than 3.5 billion phone users receive spam text messages that trick individuals into sharing sensitive information, such as credit card details, social security numbers, and banking credentials.
While many think they can spot a scam from a mile away. But, in reality, only less than 35% of the population knows what smishing is. These fraudulent messages can look shockingly legitimate.
In this post, we’ll show you how to identify a fake text message, and provide tips on how to protect yourself.
What is smishing?
Smishing is a form of phishing conducted via text messages. These fraudulent SMS attempts often appear to come from trusted entities—your bank, government agencies, even friends or family—convincing you to share private information or click on malicious links.
The goal of smishing is to steal your sensitive data or install malicious software on your device. These texts often play on emotions, like urgency or fear, to prompt quick action.
What are some common traits of scam text messages?
- Unsolicited texts from unknown or spoofed numbers
A typical characteristic of a scam text is that it comes from an unfamiliar number. While legitimate businesses use shortcodes or toll-free numbers, scammers often spoof these to make the text appear trustworthy. If you receive a text from a random, long-numbered, or suspicious source, take extra caution. - Urgent requests or alarming content
Fake texts often claim urgent issues like unauthorized bank transactions, problems with accounts, or family emergencies that require immediate action. Scammers know that stress and fear can cloud your judgment, so they pressure you into taking quick, unthought-out actions. - Strange grammar or formatting
Look for signs like spelling errors, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent formatting. Real businesses take care in crafting their messages, while scammers might rush or use poor language to disguise their intentions.
What are the common types of text message scams?
Understanding the types of scams is key to recognizing them before it’s too late. Here are a few common examples:
- Missed delivery notifications
You might receive a text claiming that a package was undeliverable and prompting you to visit a suspicious website or call a fake customer service number. - Prize or sweepstakes notifications
A scammer might tell you that you’ve won a prize but need to pay a fee or provide personal details to claim it. Be especially wary if you’ve never entered any contests. - Bank account closure threats
Scammers pretending to be from your bank may warn that your account is about to be locked unless you take action immediately. These texts often include fake links or phone numbers to collect your login details. - Subscription service payment failures
If you receive a text claiming a failed payment for a service you use, be cautious. Scammers use this tactic to extract payment information or prompt you to visit malicious websites.
How do scammers use text messages?
Scammers typically rely on tactics that mimic trusted brands or entities to trick victims into responding. These tactics include:
- Impersonating reputable companies or individuals: Scammers may pose as well-known organizations like your bank, delivery services, or government agencies to gain your trust.
- Spoofing phone numbers: By making it appear as though a trusted number is sending the message, they increase the likelihood of you believing the scam.
- Social engineering: Scammers tailor their messages to seem more believable using information gathered from previous data breaches or public sources.
- Unsolicited messages with suspicious links or requests
Unsolicited messages containing unexpected links or requests should always be approached with caution. Pay attention to details like URLs that closely mimic legitimate domains but include slight variations, such as additional characters or unfamiliar extensions.
Avoid clicking on links in these messages. Instead, verify the authenticity by directly visiting the organization's website through a trusted search engine or contacting them via official channels.
How to identify scam text messages?
What protective measures can you take against text scams?
To avoid falling victim to smishing attacks, follow these protective steps:
- Avoid responding to suspicious texts
Don’t engage with any message you suspect to be a scam. Even responding with “STOP” or “REMOVE” may confirm to the scammer that your number is active, leading to more fraudulent attempts. - Block spam numbers
If you receive a suspicious text, block the number immediately. Your phone’s settings or mobile provider’s app will usually allow you to do this. - Use Plivo’s SMS API for secure communication
For businesses, one of the best ways to prevent smishing and safeguard your business communication is by using Plivo’s SMS API fraud shield to ensure safe and secure messaging. Plivo offers robust tools for verifying customer phone numbers, authenticating accounts, and detecting fraudulent activity.
Plivo’s API helps prevent spoofing and ensures that your SMS communication is secure, reducing the risk of text scams for your business and customers.
How to report and address text message scams?
If you receive a text that you suspect to be a scam, take action:
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM)
Reporting suspicious messages helps your mobile carrier investigate the issue and block potential scammers from reaching others. - Report scams to the FTC or local authorities
You can also report smishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or local authorities to help them track down scammers and prevent further fraud. - Prevent future scams with Plivo’s Features
With Plivo’s advanced fraud protection tools, you can further safeguard your messaging systems against fraud and ensure your business communication remains secure. Whether you’re sending out SMS for customer notifications, marketing campaigns, or authentication, Plivo ensures that your messages are delivered securely to legitimate users.
How does Plivo’s SMS API help prevent text scams?
Plivo’s SMS API provides several key features that make it a strong ally in combating smishing scams and other forms of fraudulent SMS messaging:
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Plivo allows businesses to integrate two-factor authentication into their SMS workflows easily. By adding an additional layer of security through 2FA, businesses can ensure that only authorized users can access accounts or make changes, protecting sensitive data and reducing the risk of account takeovers.
- Verified sender IDs and number masking: One of the most common tactics used by scammers is number spoofing, where they fake the sender's number to appear as if the text message is coming from a trusted entity, such as a bank or government agency.
Plivo’s verified sender ID feature helps businesses establish legitimate communication with their customers by confirming that the sender's number is genuine and trusted. This greatly reduces the chances of impersonation and increases trust in the messaging process.
- Message authentication and validation: Plivo’s platform has built-in tools to ensure the integrity of the messages you send. Through features like SMS sender verification, businesses can confirm that messages are coming from authentic, authorized senders and are not altered in transit.
Additionally, Plivo allows for real-time monitoring and validation of message content to ensure that no fraudulent links or suspicious content are included in communications.
- Advanced fraud detection and prevention: Plivo’s Fraud Shield provides robust protection against SMS fraud, including smishing and account token takeover, through real-time monitoring and proactive safeguards.
It offers Geo permissions to block unauthorized destinations, avoiding unnecessary charges, and Fraud thresholds to set hourly message limits for approved countries, with alerts for suspicious activity.
Operating at the subaccount level, Fraud Shield ensures flexible, consistent security across your messaging operations, empowering businesses to safeguard SMS traffic, reduce risks, and maintain customer trust.
- Spam filtering: Plivo’s robust spam filters can automatically block incoming text messages that come from known spam sources or contain malicious content. By implementing these filters, businesses can protect themselves from receiving fraudulent texts and can also improve the quality of the messages that get through to their customers.
- Compliance and security monitoring: For businesses sending bulk SMS messages, staying compliant with regulations such as TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is crucial.
Plivo’s compliance features help businesses align with these regulations by offering tools to capture and store opt-ins, manage subscriber consent, and track message delivery and responses.
Protect your communications and keep your business secure from smishing attacks. Discover how Plivo’s trusted solutions can safeguard your messages and build lasting customer trust. Get started today!
%20.png)
