Scams over text messages have been popular ever since phones could receive multi media content, as it was a good way to reach thousands of individuals indiscriminately. It was a game of numbers, and while for a while they cooled down, the FBI has noticed a resurgence of this type of criminal behavior. Known as smishing (SMS phishing), these scams are designed to trick people into handing over personal or financial details, like banking logins or credit card information, and thanks to the advances in technology, they can now originate anywhere, even internationally, and keeping the text message on your phone can be more dangerous than you think.
Since we all know better than to answer unknown numbers, scammers nowadays have improved their technique, and they can now make the messages look like they originate from places and institutions that you would normally trust. This includes finance institutions like Bank of America, Capital One or Chase as well as government agencies and DMVs. Obviously, these messages are not from any official source even if they look like it, they come from criminal organizations that are usually located in China or other international locations. This gives them an extra layer of protection from the authorities and allows them to get away with the crime.
The new text message scam that is making the rounds
The contents usually vary, mostly depending on the type of institution they are impersonating. From asking you to secure your password by changing it to telling you that you won a raffle, the messages are tailored to ensure that you click on the link that is provided. But the latest one might be a bit more pervasive than usual, as it tells victims that they owe money for traffic violations or tolls. The message usually comes with a link that looks official as it closely mirrors the DMV formatting, sometimes even with real logos, and asks you to click on the link to make the payment.
While most people will never click on an unknown link any more, especially one that comes through a text, in just the past month, reports of these DMV-related scams have skyrocketed by 800%, and in a game of numbers, someone is bound to click. All 50 states have seen these messages pop up and authorities are attempting to do damage control to avoid their residents being scammed this way.
Some states like Florida and Alaska are telling people to just delete the message without even opening it, other agencies like Iowa’s Department of Transportation are reminding their constituents that they do not use text messages to ask for money or personal data, and most other DMVs are following suit.
The trick continues to be in how detailed these messages look. While previously there were typos or indicators that the messages had been written by foreigners, these new waves of scam texts look legitimate and look polished, with logos, formal language and attachments that could have originated in the original source. That is what makes them easy to fall for, and why so many do.
So remember, if you receive one of these messages, there are a few precautions that you need to take into consideration:
- Do not click on links included in unsolicited messages.
- Do not provide personal or banking information via text message.
- Check with an official source if you have any doubts: call the bank or institution directly.
- Report the message to your phone provider or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Delete the message immediately, even if you have not opened it.
- Always access you account from a link that you have input yourself in a browser and not a link given by a third party.