Most of us probably send or receive a text message at least once a day. Our phones are usually in our pockets or bags, almost always nearby. We hear the chime that tells us we have a text, and we reflexively respond.
Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of that, and using a technique called SMiShing.
What is SMiShing? I’m happy you asked. In this edition of the Mid-Valley Scam Alert, we’re going to dive into what this scam technique is and how you can avoid falling victim to it. So if you have a phone that sends and receives text messages, it’s time to learn a thing or two about phone frauds.
The word “smishing” is a combination of SMS and phishing. SMS stands for short message service (a common form of texting) and phishing is when scammers try to lure victims using fraudulent messages. It’s a term that’s been associated with email scams for years.
So when you put the two together, SMiShing refers to shady characters sending you text messages that look legitimate. They may claim to be from your bank, a store you like or a credit card company. However, these texts are a flat out lie, and the crook is hoping you’ll click on the fake link they send you.
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