SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – These scam messages are referred to as “smishing”.
One text could lead to big consequences. Smishing is a combination of SMS and phishing: scam text messages that appear to require quick action. “It’s very effective because these look like legitimate text messages that you’re getting from companies, especially during the Christmas season when everybody is buying stuff online,” said retired police lieutenant and founder of The Wounded Blue, Randy Sutton.
Many of these texts will use names of legitimate delivery services like Amazon or USPS, asking you to click the link provided or to confirm personal information. “It’ll take you to a fake address, they will try and obtain your personal information, they may install malware on your phone,” said Sutton.
The scammers are looking for any identifiable information like debit and credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, and social security numbers. And there isn’t a specific target demographic. “It’s just a numbers game for them. They’re throwing out there millions of phone numbers, and then there are those that are duped by it and so it becomes a very, very profitable business for them,” Sutton said.
Making millions of dollars with very little risk. Do not click these links or provide any information. If you need to track your package, go directly to the source.
USPS and Amazon both have more information on reporting and identifying these scam messages.
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