BBB Tip of the Week
The Better Business Bureau has shared many stories of scammers using email to target people for phishing attacks. Those who click on the ill-intentioned links in unsolicited phishing emails, disguised as official correspondence, may find themselves the victims of identity theft.
But fraudsters aren’t just using email to try to gain access to your personal and financial information. They are using SMS text messages sent to mobile phones. The most effective and, therefore, most common text phishing scams pretend to be from your bank. These phony bank texts indicate that there is unauthorized activity or your account was overcharged and you need to verify your information.
For those with smartphone technology, it may be tempting to tap the link in the text message and go directly to the website. This is what scammers are counting on. Not only that, but using URL shorteners for text messages, just like for social media, is fairly common. It is also a way for scammers to disguise where a link actually takes you.
The BBB offers the following advice to avoid the text phishing net:
• Don’t tap on a link in unsolicited, unexpected text messages. Instead use a verified website for the organization to contact customer support for help.
• Don’t use the phone number provided in an unsolicited text message to respond. Instead use a verified number to call the business or institution.
For shortened links, you can use a URL expander website to see the full, original link, such as CheckShortURL.com, which also offers the ability to check the expanded link for malware.
If you get caught in a phishing scam, report it to your bank or credit card issuer immediately.
Report phishing scams and attempts to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint and to the BBB at http://go.bbb.org/1zOY3oy or by calling (509) 455-4200.
Consider checking your bank and credit card accounts often for suspicious activity. Promptly balance your checking account monthly against your statement. Examine your free credit report yearly at all three credit bureaus and consider staggering them throughout the year.
For more tips you can trust, visit the BBB Consumer News and Opinion Blog at http://www.bbb.org/blog/.
By Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor