Bank Support: Safeguard Against Smishing

Enhance your financial security by visiting Bank Support, where you can find insightful strategies for success. Gain valuable knowledge on safeguarding against smishing, learn how a secured credit card can improve your credit score, and discover what information is typically found on a check. If you have any banking concerns or questions, reach out to our expert banker, Alex, at [email protected].

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Question: What is smishing?

Asked by: Alice from Wilmington, Delaware.

Answer: Smishing is a cyberattack which targets individuals through SMS (Short Message Service) or text messages. It tricks people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information, or sending money to cybercriminals using fake mobile text messages. Typically, scammers pose as banks or merchants and alert their victims about account problems through fake notifications. Clicking the provided link directs victims to a fake website or app that steals important personal information. Smishing is a combination of SMS and phishing. It resembles phishing attacks but uses SMS or messaging apps instead of emails or phone calls. Concealing the origin of smishing messages is a common tactic used by scammers. They achieve this by spoofing phone numbers or sending texts via email. Additionally, detecting dangerous links on cell phones can be more challenging as users are unable to hover over the link to determine its destination. To be safe, individuals should refrain from responding to smishing messages, even when prompted to unsubscribe. When assessing the urgency of a message, it is important to use caution. Attackers often exploit curiosity and anxiety to trick their victims. It is important to not share personal information via text messages. Keep in mind that reputable companies or organizations do not request sensitive data through this medium.

Question: How much will my credit score improve with a secured credit card?

Asked by: Kacy from Bellevue, Washington.

Answer: A secured credit card is a type of credit card that requires a security deposit to open the account. It offers an opportunity for individuals with no or poor credit to build and/or improve their credit score. The cardholder makes a one-time, refundable deposit, which acts as collateral. If payments are not made in a timely manner or if there is a default, the lender has the right to use the deposit for reimbursement. The impact of having a secured credit card on one’s credit score can’t be quantified.? It depends on several factors such as card usage, duration, and the individual’s initial credit score. To build credit, the cardholder needs to make their monthly payments on time and maintain a low credit utilization ratio. For individuals with no credit history, a secured card can help them establish a FICO score within six months. For those with poor credit, noticeable improvements can be expected within a month or two, but it can take several months, if not years, to build a good to excellent credit score.

Question: What information is on a check?

Asked by: Burt from Coral Springs, Florida.

Answer:? Checks have been used as a form of payment for a very long time. Despite technological advancements, they are still widely used, especially for larger transactions like rent or mortgage payments. A check consists of ten components. These include the issuer’s information, date, payee, transaction amount, memo line, signature, account number, routing number, bank name, and check number. The issuer’s information is the name and address of the individual or organization issuing the check.? The date indicates when the transaction occurred. The payee is the name of the person or company receiving the check.? It is usually written in the "Pay to the Order of" line. The transaction amount is written both in numerical and written form and indicates how much the check is for. The memo line provides a brief description regarding the purpose of the payment. The signature is where the account owner or authorized signer signs to approve the payment. The account and routing number identifies the financial institution holding the account, as well as the issuer’s account number within that institution. The bank name includes the financial institution’s name, logo, and address. Finally, the check number is used to identify the individual check.? It is useful for tracking transactions, referencing specific payments, and balancing a checkbook.

**Article Originally Published at: CLICK HERE.

Written by: Alex Sanchez

Important: For your specific questions about banking, contact your banking expert, Alex, at: [email protected]

Alex has been in banking for almost 20 years.? He has worked for such notable banks as Bank of America, US Bank, and Chase.? Alex has his bachelor’s degree in Business Economic from the University of California Riverside.

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Bank Support

• Safeguard Against Smishing: CLICK HERE.
• Cash Advances on Credit Cards Are Costly: CLICK HERE.?
• Keep Your Eye on the Prime Rate: CLICK HERE.
• The Burdens That Stem from Bankruptcy: CLICK HERE.
• Update to a Digital Wallet: CLICK HERE.

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