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Oct 8, 2024 · Wells Fargo: “Five steps to avoid phishing scams. Bank of America: “Recognizing Fraud FAQs”. Federal Trade Commission: “That text about overdue toll charges is probably a scam”. Federal ...
- Sage Lazzaro
- The Message Is Not Specifically For You
- It's Chock Full of Spelling and Grammatical Errors
- The Message Promises Freebies
- The Message Demands Immediate Action
- It Contains Mysterious Links
- The Message Is from A Bank Or Some Other Financial Institution
- It's Come from An Unusual Number
It's pretty likely that you exchange text messages with a relatively small group of people — friends, family and co-workers. Most people don't get a lot of "cold call" texts from people they don't know, so a message from someone you don't know, or a simple "Hello" directed to no one in particular, is a big red flag. A group message or a text that d...
For whatever reason, spammers who specialize in sending fake messages seem especially bad at grammar and spelling. That's good news for us, because any text purporting to come from a large, legitimate business will ensure its texts are letter perfect. If you get a text that has obvious errors and it's not from a close friend, you can assume it's fa...
Sweepstakes, giveaways and prizes are the stock and trade of the modern marketing industry, so just because you get a text that promises free stuff, that doesn't automatically imply you've gotten a fake test. But there's a good chance it's spam — look for the context clues. If you've been told you have already won, and you simply need to complete s...
One common trick that spammers and fraudsters use is to install a sense of urgency in their message — whether it's to convince you that the message is coming from a friend who needs immediate financial assistance, the IRS looking for a missing payment, or a company warning that you have a problem with your car, house, or some other asset and need t...
Fraudulent texters and spammers try to disguise themselves, so they might include unidentified links in their messages. Never tap a link that doesn't come from someone you know — the link could lead to a phishing site or contain malware. In fact, you can generally assume any text you get from an unknown party that has mysterious links is probably f...
As a general rule, financial institutions don't contact customers via text message, and those that do won't ask for personal details or demand payments that way. Often, spammers won't know who you bank with, so you might get text messages from a bank you don't even have an account with. If they get lucky, though, and spam you with a text from a fin...
Finally, beware of texts from unknown parties — either phone numbers you don't recognize or, worse, lengthy numbers that don't conform to the standard usual 10-digit domestic phone number convention. Texts from international numbers or automated systems can generate these awkward numbers and they are tell-tale signs that you're getting something fr...
- Henry Blodget
Some scammers ask you to text “STOP” or “NO” so you won’t receive future texts. In reality, your reply tells them they have a real, active phone number and could open you up to future ...
Jan 16, 2024 · 1. Unusually long numbers. Legitimate SMS marketing messages are usually sent from a 6-digit short code (like 711711), a 10-digit toll-free phone number (ex: 844-462-2554), or a local text-enabled business phone. If you receive a text message from an unidentified 11-digit number, the odds are high that it’s a scam.
If you get an unwanted text message, there are three ways to report it: Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future. Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
Dec 6, 2021 · The scammer sends a text message with a link to potential victims. Normally, the message invites you to verify your account details, make a payment, or claim a prize. Crafting a phishing email that doesn't immediately raise suspicion requires some skill. The scammer has to be mindful of branding and tone and make sure the email is error-free.
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Jun 6, 2023 · On iPhone: Go to Settings > Messages > then scroll down to Message Filtering > Toggle on “ Filter Unknown Senders.”. On Android: Go to Messages > then navigate to Settings > Click on Spam Protection and enable it. Delete scam text messages. Avoid keeping the content of a scam text on your mobile device.
