Text Or SMS Scams

Scammers send messages pretending to be from the government, law enforcement, trusted businesses, or even your own family or friends. These messages will seem extremely necessary and will try to ask you to take immediate action. Often these will include a link, which will take you to a scam website. Scammers can steal any personal information recorded on these scam websites and use it to grab your money or commit fraud in your name. Scammers copy or hide the phone numbers and caller IDs of legitimate businesses or your acquaintances to pretend these messages are genuine. Even scam messages can appear in a message series of genuine messages going from an organization, making it more difficult to identify them.

Signs Of Message Scam

You’re asked to step in, pay, or transfer money immediately.
You’re asked to click on a link or call the number in the message.
You are asked to log on to an online account with your username and password or provide other personal information.
A family member or friend is said to have changed their contact details.
You are threatened with withholding a service or charging you a fee if you don’t step in.
You or your accounts are suggested to be hacked or involved in fraud.
A problem with your payment or the delivery of your package is suggested.

Steps To Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams

1. If someone you know sends a message to indicate that they have a new phone number,:

a. Try calling them on the current number available with them.

b. Send a message to the new number asking them a question that only the person knows the answer to, to check that they are the same person making the claim.

2. Never click on the link given in the message.

3. If a message gives a link to a web site, do not click on that link. Instead search the website online yourself or use an official app.

4. Do not reply to text messages using the phone number provided.

5. Call back the organization or person to the phone number you searched for yourself — such as from the number on the organization’s official website.

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