Most of us are used to SPAM in our email. We’re good at recognizing it, deleting it, and moving on with our lives. Scammers have recognized this and are increasingly distributing SPAM via text messages. For some reason, people tend to think that text messages are different, that they are somehow safer or a more private means of communication. They are not; and unsolicited text messages can be just as dangerous, often containing malicious URLs or tempting us to text back offering up personal information in exchange for some benefit. $50 Amazon gift card, anyone?
If you receive an unexpected text, treat it the same way you would as an unwelcome email.
- Do not reply (a reply let’s the scammer know that they’ve reach an active phone number)
- Do not click links (could be malicious)
- Delete the message
- Block the sender
That’s it. There’s no great way to stop these but it’s easy enough to ignore them.
Here are a few examples of some that I’ve received this year. Unfortunately this is a more frequent occurrence than it has been in the past, but remember that you are in control. Think before you click or reply. If it’s a legitimate contact and if it’s important, the sender will find another way to reach you.
Scammers use personal information to provoke a response
Replying with STOP will not stop the messages – delete it.
Scammers entice their victims with bogus discounts or incentives
I get several of these every week. So annoying!