TEXAS, USA — Have you gotten those text messages where it says you won a gift card and you need to click the link provided to receive it? Well this is nine times out of ten a form of a scam.
Smishing is described by Norton Antivirus as any kind of phishing that involves a text message. Research shows Smishing has increased 328% in 2020 alone. People are more inclined to trust a text message because it is more personal than an email, and this is what makes it so dangerous.
Better Business Bureau of San Angelo CEO and President Glenna Friedrich says in her 42 years of working in the cyber security industry, things are the worst she has ever seen.
“Hundreds of people call here every week complaining about getting auto warranty calls when they don’t even have a car in some cases. People also say 'Hey how do I get these numbers to stop calling?'. Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do because one a scammer has your number, it’s out for grabs,” Glenna Friedrich said.
If you have a number you’ve shared with a lot of people, it can get into the wrong hands and that’s when scammers call. They can also get your number from doing applications online and sharing it online.
It is also suggested to not open links that are sent to you because that opens up a door for scammers and hackers to get information on your phone or any device and steal your personal information When you receive a call that looks unfamiliar, do not answer because when you do, that separates you from people who didn’t answer and they more than likely going to call again.
“People need to stop and think before they do things and not give out numbers, social security numbers are high right now. There's an angle for almost everything and people need to be very careful who they give information to,” Friedrich mentioned.
Phone companies are slowly getting the technology to be able to pick up on scammers that call by labeling the caller ID 'Likely Scam’ or 'Scam’ so that helps depict what is as is not real as well.
