Scammers are increasingly using “smishing,” or SMS phishing, to target individuals with fraudulent messages. These texts often contain pretexts such as claiming the recipient has won a gift card, is owed an IRS refund, or owes unpaid tolls—common tactics as reported by the Federal Trade Commission and experts from the Anti-Phishing Working Group. Reports indicate that Americans received 19.2 billion spam texts in February, with 86% of surveyed individuals having received such messages over the past year.
The rise in smishing, which increased by 22% in late 2024, shows scammers are adapting their tactics based on current events, exploiting situations like new toll rules in New York City or people planning vacations. Experts recommend that individuals remain skeptical of unsolicited texts that require personal information, avoid clicking on links, and confirm any suspicious messages by contacting companies directly using known contact information. Suggestions also include registering for do-not-call lists and reporting fraudulent texts to regulatory bodies like the FTC or the FBI.
Interestingly, younger adults (ages 18-44) are becoming more frequent targets of these scams compared to older adults, possibly due to their higher likelihood of responding to such messages. Older adults, generally more cautious, often do not engage with unknown contacts. As the scam landscape evolves, both age groups need to remain vigilant against these fraudulent activities.
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