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Clip art classy text message3/19/2024 ![]() The phone number is “spoofed” (i.e., it looks like it’s coming from someone you know or trust).The text sender has a long phone number (10 or 11 digits).The text message is unsolicited (scammers will always contact you out of the blue).Here are the red flags you should look out for whenever you receive a strange text or message on a messaging app such as Telegram or WhatsApp: As a result, 21% of all fraud cases start with a text message, with most victims losing an average of $900, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While many users are aware of the dangers of responding to suspicious emails, they often let their guards down with text messages. Similar to scam emails that are known as " phishing,” scam text messages are called “ smishing.” The end goal of both scams is the same: trick victims into giving up money or sensitive information that can be used for identity theft and fraud. How To Identify a Fake Text Message In 5 Seconds Any suspicious links will also be flagged to keep you from clicking on them. □ Worried about text message scams? Aura's SMS protection will filter unwanted texts and place them into a junk folder. Note: Netflix (and any other company) will never text you to update your membership, personal information, or billing information via text or third-party websites. But if you click on them, you could either download malware onto your device or end up on a phishing website that steals your sensitive information. These links will always be shortened to avoid suspicion. The goal of any scam text is to get you to click on a link or call a number. It includes a link that is either shortened or scrambled.They’ll claim your account numbers have been compromised or that you’re going to be charged a huge fee if you don’t respond. Scam text messages almost always use a form of social engineering to bypass your defenses. It creates a sense of urgency to get you to act.Scammers will often claim to be from your bank, a service you use, or a government agency like the FBI or IRS to build trust. It claims to be from a company you know and trust.Scammers know you probably don’t know Netflix’s phone number by heart, but that you’re also unlikely to look it up before responding to a text. It uses a realistic yet random phone number.Though difficult to initially spot, the text above contains several signs of a scam: Example: A Fake Netflix Text Message That Almost WorkedĪ fake Netflix text message that uses urgency to trick users into clicking a link. If you’re at all suspicious about a text message you just received, read this guide before you respond, click on any links, or take action. īut while some fake text messages and spam texts are easy to spot, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated with their scams. Last year, there was a record 58% increase in spam text messages - with scammers sending over 87 billion texts and fleecing their victims out of more than $10 billion. It was only after the call immediately disconnected that she realized what had really happened - she had been caught by a text message scam. So she didn’t hesitate when a robotic voice asked her to “verify” her identity by entering her credit card number, Social Security number (SSN), and birthday. Īs a former victim of identity theft, Alyssa knew she had to act quickly to stop scammers. When Alyssa Beckwith received a fraud alert text from Wells Fargo about a suspicious $240 ATM withdrawal, she immediately called the number in the message. Did You Just Receive a Scam or Spam Text?
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