You may have heard the term “smishing” — a type of phishing scam carried out via SMS text messaging. The word itself is a blend of “SMS” (Short Message Service) and “phishing.”
Like email-based phishing scams, smishing messages are designed to appear as if they come from a trusted source — such as your bank, a delivery service or a government agency — in order to trick you into clicking a malicious link or sharing personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers or other sensitive data. They usually contain urgent language or alarming claims to pressure you into clicking a link or replying with information.
Smishing attempts are becoming more frequent, and their messages can be very convincing.
Stay safe: Read our full guide on phishing scams to learn more.