Beware of this new scam: smishing, or "SMS phishing"

[jmowreader]

Here's the deal: I was looking at Texas' state website for information on how to become a Texas resident. While there, I found this wonderful little public service announcement on smishing, or "SMS phishing"--phishing by "short message service" text message.

Message starts:

Beware of Text Message Spam: "Smishing"

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Texas cell phone users should beware of an emerging, high-tech threat that has been dubbed: “smishing.” To trick more people into revealing personal information, financial account numbers, and passwords, spammers have begun sending fraudulent cell phone text messages.

As many computer users know, spam e-mail messages, known as “phishing,” frequently arrive in e-mail inboxes. Many computer users have learned to identify and delete fraudulent e-mails that falsely appear to originate from legitimate banks, credit card companies and government agencies. Internet service providers and spam filters often block these messages so they never reach their intended targets.

Effective spam filters have not yet been developed for cell phone text messages. Very few text messages are blocked by filters or cell phone providers. While misspelled e-mail messages and broken address links make it simpler to judge a spam e-mail, determining whether a text message is legitimate may be difficult. There are no images – only text – and the message is usually short.

For example, smishing messages may threaten the recipient about an impending charge that can be cancelled only if the user visits a phony Web site displayed in the message. Another common scam directs the recipient to call a toll-free number to complete or cancel a financial transaction. An “operator” at the number will helpfully take the caller’s credit card or debit account number – and use that information to defraud the caller if they are part of a scam.

Smishing recipients should not respond to the sender. In fact, they should not call any telephone numbers provided in the text message – nor should they click on any Web links. Activating Web links that appear in unexpected text messages may direct users to fraudulent Web sites or allow identity thieves to capture users’ sensitive personal information. Legitimate financial institutions do not call or e-mail customers seeking this information. Customers who are concerned about a purportedly pending charge should contact the service provider or bank directly and inquire about it.

Spammers responsible for fraudulent smishing messages, calls and e-mails are attempting to obtain customers’ personal identifying information. Texans should delete the unexpected text message or e-mail and hang up the telephone.

Change "Texans" to whatever the residents of your state are called, and it looks like decent advice.

[tanyev]

1. Ha! I'm one step ahead of them.

I don't have any idea how to access messages on my cell phone. Smish away, scoundrels!

[customerserviceguy]

4. I wish I could get T-mobile to block text messaging to my phone

I never respond, and it costs me a dime every time one of my friends doesn't get the message that I'm not going to respond in kind.

This texting has grown bad, I saw two people texting while driving in very busy Jersey City traffic in the rain on Saturday night, you had an advance warning because they were weaving a bit, and not keeping up with the flow. Saw some goofus texting as he's blindly walking down a supermarket aisle yesterday, fortunately, I could avoid him, but perhaps a little old lady with poor vision and a shopping cart might not have.

Maybe it should be outlawed.

[cdsilv]

5. Tmo here in TX will block text messages - n/t

[Uben]

6. You're still not safe!

I don't even know how to text, yet upon scrutinizing my phone bill, I found three charges for 9.99 on the same day. When I questioned the phone company about it, they said I had opted for a SMS text service. I eventually found out that by dialing a number on my "missed calls" where once the phone was answered, it was immediately disconnected, and that call allowed the SMS company to charge my account. When I told the telephome company I never spoke to anyone from the SMS company and never agreed to any texting package, and that I didn't even know how to text, much less authorize them to charge my account, they said it was perfectly legal. After about an hour on the phone talking to "supervisors", they credited my account for the charges, and I had texting removed as an option on my cell phone, even though I had never texted and didn't even know thr option was on my plan!

I suggest you call your phone company if you do not text, and have them disable that function on your phone, lest you too get scammed! The charges originated from a company in England, and after I Googled their name, I saw that this was a big scam in Europe as well!

[tanyev]

7. I will check on that.

Since my cell phone is hardly ever on, my husband set it to forward to the home answering machine instead of going to a voice mail system. Plus, our phones are pretty old--they may not have ever been set up for texting.

[Uben]

8. I have a pay as you go plan

I rarely ever use my cell phone. It is set up to add $15.00 worth of minutes a month automatically. Consequently, I have a balance of around $500 worth of minutes on it. I believe the scammers target accounts that have little use and big balances, figuring that these people don't use their phone much and don't check their charges. No telling how many billions of dollars they have scammed!

[LWolf]

2. I block all text messages.

Because I can, and because I don't have the time to constantly be trying to read my phone. If it's an emergency, they can call, and if not, they can email. I promise to sit at the 'puter and check emails once a day.

My old provider did not have the option to block texting. When spam texts came in, they routinely charged me. 15 cents a spam. When I complained, they suggested that I change my phone number. I kept the number, and changed providers instead.

[Steven_S]

3. Thank you

I have a teenager at home with one of those Internet phones. I'll make sure he knows about this.

[NV Whino]

9. I was able to turn off texting on my phone.