- Avast warns of 10 common types of SMS scams, including fake packages and OTP theft
- Red flags include urgency, suspicious links, code requests, and unusual spelling or branding.
- The best defense: ignore messages or forward spam to 7726 (SPAM) to block the operator
With Christmas behind us and New Year just around the corner, we are in peak scam season – all the cyber criminals have come out of the woodwork and are doing everything they can to scam you out of your money. With that in mind, the Avast security team shared their tips on how to best defend yourself against SMS scams.
Similar to phishing, SMS scams work by attempting to trick you into clicking a link or downloading and executing a malicious attachment. What makes them slightly more dangerous is that mobile platforms are arguably less defended compared to desktop and laptop computers.
For Avast, there are 10 types of scams that people should be aware of today:
Fake packages not delivered
One-time password (OTP) or code theft
Tax refunds or fines
Fake refunds
Impersonation of family or friends
Offers, prizes or surveys
Job offers and side jobs (such as mystery shoppers or brand recruiting)
Investment opportunities and cryptocurrencies
Callback and Support Scams
Fake account alerts (banks, cryptocurrencies, email, social networks)
How to stay safe
All of these themes have some things in common, Avast notes. The most obvious red flag is the sense of urgency that is mandatory in all of them. Things like “final notice,” “urgent resolution,” or urging recipients to “act today” to not “lock your account.” 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 seem harmless, “but they are one of the main entry points for criminals,” the researchers said.
Then, there are requests for codes, PINs or payments, which are always suspicious, since no real company will ask their customers to share their login credentials or other secrets.
Finally, unusual spelling or brand names, or pressure to change communication channels, are common scam tactics.
The best way to defend yourself 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 your wireless service provider detect and block similar messages.
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