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Smishing
Do not respond to texts or click links
Contact us immediately
Monitor your accounts
Pause before responding to strange texts.
It could be an attempt to defraud you.
Smishing is like phishing except it uses text messages to entrap and scam people. The name comes from "SMs phISHING". SMS (Short Message Service) is the technology used for text messages.
Because so many people use a cell phone as their main number, there's an increased risk of being solicited through text. Receiving a phone call from a number we don't know isn't that big of a deal. But when you receive a startling text message (“PFCU: Your account has been suspended. Call ###.###.#### immediately to reactivate" or "PFCU: is confirming your purchase of $2000 for a Sony TV"), it can be difficult to ignore. With popular services like eAlerts, these messages can be very misleading and make it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and criminal.
Trust your instincts
If you have any suspicions about a text message, do not trust it. If you want to know for sure, find the number of the financial institution or company and call them to confirm the message is a scam. Never trust the links to websites, phone numbers to call, etc.
Do not respond to anything that asks for your personal information, and do not click on any link in a suspicious messages. Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Four actions to take if you are a victim of smishing
- Contact us immediately.
- Review all credit card and other account statements for unauthorized transactions immediately upon receipt. And make sure you access your accounts through online banking for real-time updates.
- If you've disclosed personally identifying information, contact the three major credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They will help you determine if a fraud alert should be placed on your file, which will help prevent thieves from opening accounts in your name.
- If your response to a smishing attack results in your becoming a victim of identity theft, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Click the "File a Complaint" link on the screen.