- Avast warns of 10 common SMS scams, including bogus packages and OTP theft
- Red flags include urgency, suspicious links, requests for codes, and unusual spelling or branding
- Best defense: ignore messages or forward spam to 7726 (SPAM) to block operator
With Christmas behind us and the New Year just around the corner, we’re in peak season for scams – cybercriminals have all come out of the woodwork and are doing their best to scam you out of your money. With that in mind, security outfit Avast shared their tips on how to best defend against SMS scams.
Similar to phishing, SMS scams work by trying to trick you into clicking a link or downloading and running a malicious attachment. What makes them somewhat more dangerous is that mobile platforms are arguably less defended compared to desktops and laptops.
For Avast, there are 10 types of scams people should keep in mind these days:
Fake undelivered packages
One time password (OTP) or code theft
Tax refund or fines
Fake refunds
Imitation of family or friends
Offers, prizes or surveys
Job offers and side gigs (such as mystery shoppers or brand recruitment)
Crypto and investment opportunities
Recalls and support fraud
Fake Account Alerts (Banking, Crypto, Email, Social)
How to stay safe
All of these themes have a few things in common, notes Avast. The most obvious red flag is the sense of urgency that is mandatory in all of them. Things like “final message”, “urgent resolution” or urging recipients to “act today” to avoid having their “account locked”. This is always cause for suspicion.
Many of these SMS messages also contain unexpected links or shortened URLs. Links from services like bit.ly or tinyurl may look harmless, “but it is one of the main entry points for criminals,” the researchers said.
Then there are requests for codes, PINs or payments, which are always suspicious, as no real company would ever ask their customers to share their login details or other secrets.
Finally, unusual spelling or brand names, or pressure to switch communication channels, are all common scam tactics.
The best way to defend against this type of scam is to simply ignore it. Those who want to be a little more proactive can forward all spam to 7726 (SPAM), which helps their wireless carrier find and block similar messages.
Via Avast
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