Fake Text Messages Are Scamming Thousands Out Of Texans This Holiday Season

As people in Texas prepare for the holiday season, scammers are already targeting shoppers by sending them fake text messages in a smishing scam that could steal thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims.

According to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), criminals are ramping up their scamming ways with this new technique that uses your phone to lure you into giving out personal information.

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What Is Smishing?

As more people order various things online, a confirmation text message usually contains instructions, delivery methods, and other information about their purchase. Scammers are using this method to send out bogus text messages that may have a link for you to click to input personal information.

The scammers will send the bogus link with a message telling you that it is urgent that you click on the link. Once you do, the damage is done and a variety of malicious software could be taking over your phone before you know it.

It is important to know what to look for when you receive a strange text.

Scamming Texts: What To Look For

• A message announces you’ve won a major prize (monetary or other), but you don’t recall ever entering a contest or sweepstakes.
• You’re asked for highly sensitive personal information to unlock an offer or avoid a penalty. The scammer may request your bank account number, PIN number, Social Security number or income.
• The message is friendly and casual, as if it’s from someone who knows you—but you don’t recognize the number or name (if they provide one).
• The text message is sent out of the blue, and you don’t recognize the sender
• Seems overly eager to chat and asks a lot of personal questions
• Asks you to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram, or another type of messaging app
• Talks about financial products (especially cryptocurrency) or investment opportunities early in the conversation
• Sends you a photo (or has an online profile photo) and they look like a professional model
• The text message contains many misspellings, bad grammar, or both
• The phone number of the sender is unusually long
• The message contained in the text is not relevant to you at all

Knowing how these criminals are working and what you can look out for is the key to not falling for these unfortunate scams. Be safe out there!