Truth is, it’s likely the only suspicious activity there is the message itself—because it’s a scam. And if you feel like you have been getting a lot more of these spammy calls and texts, you’re not alone.
Cyberattacks Can Have Serious Consequences
Cyberattacks like these can be harmful to your financial and personal security, and can even lead to identify theft. “If you don’t put yourself through rigorous checks, you’re going to get hit at some point,” says Nick Santora, a certified cybersecurity expert. “The reality is that it’s not ‘if’ but ‘when’ a phishing attack will happen.” The first step is to know how to identify these scam messages, also known as phishing attacks. “Email (phishing) or text (SMS phishing, ‘smishing’) scams are an easy way for hackers to steal money by pretending to be someone you trust,” Santora explains. When you’re reading one of these messages, don’t click on any links or attachments, or download anything. “If there is a link, don’t click,” warns Santora. Instead, hover over the link to examine the URL and verify the source.
What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed
Unfortunately, cyberattacks are on the rise. “These scams are increasing due to the growing amount of public information that’s available,” says Santora. You should also report the scam to the FTC, which has a Report Fraud page. Once you file a report here, the FTC might file an enforcement action and try to get your money back.
