ever since i’ve had a phone, i’ve received numerous sms scam messages. these messages range from scammers claiming they are usps, a company providing me with a coupon or giftcard, a toll collector that’s reminding me to pay my overdue balance, etc. while i normally delete these messages, there have been a few times where i’ve had to catch myself before i click on the link attached.
the purpose of these scams is to manipulate targets by utilizing every day occurences to create a seemingly harmless message. these messages also typically create a sense of urgency, because the matter is something that interests you. due to the nature of the message, people will likely click on the link attached and give away their personal information. scammers can then use this personal information for malicious purposes.
a few ways that i’ve learned to decipher whether or not a message is a scam is by verifying the number of the service by checking the company’s website. another way, if the information requested is more personal, is by going to the company directly and verifying with customer service if the message was in fact sent by them.
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