Watch Out for Strange Text Messages Trying to Steal Your Personal and Financial Information
Don’t interact with suspicious texts, especially from unfamiliar numbers or those that seem innocent
Unsolicited text messages, known as “smishing”—are on the rise, with scammers impersonating banks, delivery services, government agencies and even charities. Replying or tapping links can expose you to identity theft, malware or unwanted charges. Here’s how to spot and avoid these mobile phishing attacks.
Common Smishing Tactics
- Prize notifications: “Congratulations! You’ve won a $500 gift card, tap here to claim.”
- Bank alerts: “Your debit card ending in 1234 has been suspended. Verify at [link].”
- Delivery updates: “Your package could not be delivered. Confirm address here.”
- OTP or verification code scams: “Use this code 123456 to complete your purchase.”
- Charity solicitations: “Text DONATE to 12345 to support disaster relief.”
Why You Shouldn’t Reply or Click
Replying confirms your number is active, inviting more spam. Clicking links can:
- Install malware or spyware on your phone
- Redirect you to fraudulent websites that harvest credentials
- Trigger unauthorized premium-rate SMS charges
Protective Steps to Take
- Delete suspicious texts: Never reply “STOP” or tap unsubscribe links in unknown messages.
- Verify independently: If a message claims to be from your bank, use the official app or customer service number.
- Block the number: Use your phone’s blocking feature or a trusted spam-filtering app (Hiya, Truecaller, Nomorobo).
- Never share one-time codes: A genuine OTP is for your use only, don’t forward it to anyone.
Legal Protections
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act prohibits unsolicited commercial texts via auto-dialer without your consent. Violations can incur fines up to $500 per message, though enforcement varies, so personal vigilance is key.
North Carolina Consumer Resources
- NC Department of Justice, Consumer Protection: Report smishing or fraud at ncdoj.gov/complaints or call 1-877-566-7226
- FCC Consumer Complaints: File at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
- FTC Report Fraud: Submit at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Stay alert, delete suspicious messages and report scams. Keeping your personal information off scammers’ lists is the best defense against relentless smishing attacks.