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Oct 8, 2024 · To help you figure out what’s real and what’s not, I spoke with Sarno and Rachel Tobac, a hacking expert and the CEO of SocialProof Security. Ahead, these digital privacy experts will identify...
- Sage Lazzaro
Jun 17, 2024 · Have you ever received a random text message from a stranger greeting you with a single “Hello” or something like “Hi, How are you?” Despite seeming innocuous at first, this general conversation starter could launch a bigger plan to scam you.
- 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
Here’s how to tell a real text message from a scam – even if the con artist is posing as a business you know and trust. Spot a fake text message by looking for these red flags. Scammers...
Jan 16, 2024 · 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.
Jun 6, 2023 · Here are the red flags you should look out for whenever you receive a strange text or message on a messaging app such as Telegram or WhatsApp: The text message is unsolicited (scammers will always contact you out of the blue). The text sender has a long phone number (10 or 11 digits).
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Nov 29, 2023 · Here are a few key tips to keep in mind that can help you spot a spam text or smishing scam: The message has no relevance to you: The message seems completely out of the blue and isn’t connected to an activity you’ve recently undertaken. Maybe it names a bank you’ve never held an account with or warns you about a delivery you never ordered.
