Chances are some scammer is trying to bait you with phishing, smishing, or vishing techniques.
Phishing attempts usually come through email.
So, you choose their provided link to take care of it immediately.
But that link doesn’t take you to the authentic website.
I recently received a suspicious email (screenshot above) exhibiting several signs of a potential phishing scam.
Given these multiple red flags, I promptly deleted the email without responding.
Pixabay
What Is Smishing?
Smishing is a phishing scam sent through text messages to your phone instead of emails to your inbox.
Smishing texts use all sorts of tricks to get you to choose links or give up sensitive details.
If you click that link and submit your login credentials, you have fallen prey to the scam.
In another scenario, a smishing text may claim you won a prize or lottery out of the blue.
This prize is nonexistent, and your compromised account details may initiate the scammers to drain your bank balance.
Pixabay
Similarly deceptive is a message stating someone won a lottery and wishes to share their winnings with you.
As expected, they provide instructions to click a link or furnish personal information to secure the funds.
Even tax season is not safesmishing texts may promise tax refunds or claim you owe the IRS money.
macrovector/freepik
So why text and not email?
Because we’re constantly glued to our phones, smishing has a higher chance of success.
What Is Vishing?
Vishing is “voice phishing” and refers to scams carried out over phone calls.
Vishing scams usedifferent social engineering strategies to venture to fool you.
One of two things now occur.
They are easy to remember and will save you time, money, and heaps of wasted energy.
Above all, be vigilant.
If you are unsure, simply hang up.
If it is an unsolicited email or text, ignore it.
