With online and mobile banking skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that scams have quickly followed. One recent tactic is the use of scam texts. The practice is called “smishing,” a contraction of SMS Phishing. Reporter Mike Lipsitz explains what it is and how to avoid it…
Smishing is designed to steal your personal information. A smishing text appears to be an alert from your bank or credit card company, asking you to confirm information or “reactivate your card” by calling an number or following a link on your smart phone. Details of the scams vary, but the outcome is the same: scammers get your account information, maybe even your ATM number and PIN. Victims may even inadvertently download malicious software that gives scammers access to everything on the phone. To protect yourself, don’t call a number left on text message. Banks don’t send texts prompting you to call. If you’re still not sure, get the number from the bank’s website and verify the inquiry. Download banking apps through official channels like iTunes or Google Play store. And finally, don’t click links from unverified senders.
