Scam Me Not

My New Years Resolution:? Avoid Being Scammed by a Text Message

These modern fraudsters are getting increasingly more creative and innovative in their scams. They’ve got tools, technology, and strategies now to clone credit cards, social profiles, and phone numbers. It’s no wonder fraud losses topped nearly $6,000,000,000? (six billion dollars!) last year, a 70% increase from the year before, according to the FTC.??

If only they used their powers for good…

Alas, since mankind started selling things (or maybe even before), “con-mankind'' started stealing things.?

The method of the con has evolved through the years, from selling potions through newspapers, to mail fraud, then telephone, email, and now even through texting.?

It’s this latest scam, through Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages, that’s particularly violating.?

Text messages were a last respite of hope and communication on our terms. After the email inbox was full and filtered, and the smartphones identified “potential spam” callers, our phone’s text message hub was supposed to stay ours-a clean, sacred, place with messages only from those we know, like (usually), and trust.?

But not anymore.?

Chances are you’ve received one of these scam texts already, called “Smishing.”?

According to RoboKiller, a technology company that claims to screen 99% of spammy calls and texts (one of my colleagues in Chicago swears by RoboKiller), there were over 12 billion of these scam text messages sent in July of 2022 alone.?

How to Recognize a Scam Text

As creative as many of these fraudsters are getting, there are still red flags you can look for when you get an unusual text message.?

First, many of these text messages seem to come out of nowhere, and aren’t relevant to your current events or life situation. They talk about packages, or discounts, or membership options for things you never signed up for.?

Second, there can be typographical or spelling errors in the text, or in links that are included in the message. The fraudsters get crafty, but there are tell-tale signs when you pay attention. Look at this example from one of my notary friends. She just received this the other day:?

Note the efforts the fraudsters took to make it look like FedEx is sending the message, but they also have a very suspicious looking link, the use of the numeral ‘3’ for an ‘E’, and the misspelling of the word “Corrupted.”?

How to Protect Yourself From a Smishing Attack

Let’s start with “whoosah…”

I know these text message scams are a violation, interrupting the sacred zone of your phone, and sometimes even appearing to be emergencies, but slow your roll.?

Take a few deep breaths.?

Resist doing anything…at first.?

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Text:

1. Do not reply at all.?

If you reply, you essentially validate your phone number to the fraudster so they know you are real, and it establishes a relationship with you and the scammer so phone carriers have a harder time determining spam.?

1. Do not click ANY links in a suspicious text message.?

Clicking tainted links is how the scammers load “bad” software onto your phone and gain access to your sensitive information.?

1. Don’t call any phone numbers that the sender includes in the text message.

They control that number. Instead, validate the company’s customer service number by researching independently on the web. If the text says it is from FedEx, look up FedEx’s customer service number and call that number, not the one in the text message.?

1. Don’t share personal information.?

And if you ignore these first three suggestions, and insist on clicking a link, responding, or even calling them at the number they provided, then at the very least, please do not provide ANY personal information. Many scammers pretend to be government agencies, like the IRS, Medicare/Medicaid, or the VA. Government agencies will never ask you for personal information via a text message.?

They say one of the best things you can do to avoid these text message scams in the first place is to be careful with who you share your phone number with.?

For me, as a mobile notary, loan signing agent, apostille facilitator, and permit runner my phone number is out everywhere on the internet. It’s important that my customers be able to find me. I like to help people, so it’s worth the risk.?

And, while it may be too late to save myself from being inundated with smishing attempts, there are still a few things you can do to further prevent these attacks from happening to you.?

Four Ways to Prevent or Minimize Smishing Attacks

1. Keep your phone’s software updated. You can usually automate this to happen in the middle of the night so you’ll barely notice.?

1. Block suspicious numbers when they call or text.?

1. Report spam & scams by forwarding the messages to 7726 (SPAM). This empowers your carrier to investigate and even shut down numbers and websites that are causing trouble.?

1. Consider using a third party spam protection app, like RoboKiller or others.?

If you’d like more detail about how to specifically block spam, and add spam filters on your particular device, cyber-security company Norton offers step-by-step instructions for both Apple and Android products in their article here.?

The reality is, if someone wants what we have bad enough, there’s a chance they’ll get it. We may fall prey to one of their scams at some point or another.? It’s part of modern life, I suppose.

So a bonus option you have, similar to why you carry homeowners insurance or car insurance, just in case, is to use identity theft protection and monitoring plans like ID Shield??

Pat McGhee is a professional mobile notary, loan signing agent, apostille facilitator, and permit runner based in North Hollywood. Whether you are an escrow officer, a contractor or an individual in need of assistance, she will be glad to help. Contact info:

Or text at 773-425-0496