Spot The Red Flags of Fake Text Messages

Scammers love phishing schemes but they aren’t just limited to emails.  As more businesses use text messaging to communicate with customers, con artists are sending out their own texts, posing as organizations you know and trust. Here are some tips to help you decide if a text message is real or fake.

Don’t trust unsolicited messages.  Scammers will try to get you to click on a link or call a number.  Some examples include claiming you won a prize, your account is about to be deactivated, or there was a problem delivering a package.  They may even claim fraudulent activity has been detected on your account.  Before responding, think about the ask.  If you didn’t give the company permission to text you, or if you didn’t enter a contest, or if you aren’t expecting a package, it could be a fake text.

Watch for suspicious links.  Most scam text messages include a clickable link. Scammers hope the message will cause you to act without thinking.  If you click on the provided link, it could download malware or spyware to your device, or lead you to a look-alike website where scammers can harvest your personal information, login ID and/or password credentials.

A personalized message doesn’t make the sender trustworthy.  Scammers may have access to your name, your address, your bank, your phone provider and other details about you.  They may even include some of this information in their text to make it appear more legitimate.

Look for spelling and grammatical errors.  A large number of fake texts originate from overseas where English isn’t the primary language.  Some scammers are highly skilled so not every fake text will follow this rule.  If you notice strange phrasing along with spelling and grammatical errors, the text is probably fake.

If a website looks real, check again.  You still need to be careful if you click on a link and it takes you to what appears to be an official business website. Scammers create carbon copies of legitimate websites.  Check the URL to make sure you are on the official website before navigating within it.

Look up phone numbers before you call.  Scammers may prompt you to call a number, claiming you need to resolve an issue or register to receive a prize.  They may do so under the guise of a real business, agency or organization so always double check numbers before you call.

Don’t reply to a scam text.  Some scammers ask you to text “STOP” or “NO” to remove yourself from the list.  Don’t fall for it.  Your reply tells them they have reached a real working number, and it could open you up to future attacks.  Delete the message and block the number.

Keep your antivirus software up to date. Antivirus software can alert you to fake and unsafe websites if you happen to click on one.

Report it.  If you’ve received a fake text message, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.  Your report helps to warn others of the scams taking place in the marketplace.

Information provided by the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau.