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A report published in September by CNET detailed how best to avoid text scams, particularly those related to online banking, and what to do if you or a loved one falls victim.
Recent estimates suggest that one in three Americans has received a text message scam, and a third of those has fallen victim, according to CNET. In the worst case scenario, 65% of victims didn’t realize their situation until far after the scam had played out.
“Text-message phishing scams (also called “smishing”) are also becoming more sophisticated. Cybercriminals now have easy access to AI, which can be used to craft plausible messages from supposedly trustworthy sources. The FBI’s latest Internet Crime Report found that 298,878 complaints of phishing scams in 2023 resulted in almost $19 million in losses,” the outlet wrote. (TAKE A POLL: How Often Do You Encounter Misinformation Online?)
Banking Messages
If you ever receive a text message claiming to be from your bank: stop. Are you sure you’ve turned on the setting to receive messages from your bank? “If you haven’t enabled text notifications, be suspicious: The message purportedly from your bank is almost certainly a scam, and you should report it to your bank and the FTC (see below).” (TAKE A POLL: Have You Had to Take on Additional Work to Make Ends Meet?)
If you’re still unsure, just know that banks will never ask for personal information via text message. Claims of urgency are also mostly fake. Banks will also never ask you to follow a link to verify your identity. The best thing to do is contact your bank directly after receiving the message. Then take a screenshot of the message before deleting it. If you do accidentally interact with the message, contact your bank immediately and let them know. They’ll be able to help.
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