A text message pops up on your phone, claiming you have an outstanding traffic ticket. For additional details, it prompts you to “REPLY Y,” or risk facing stiff fines. It makes you a little nervous. Did you accidentally speed through a stoplight camera on your last road trip? It’s hard to remember, so you type “Y” back to find out more. Simple enough, right?
Not so fast, the experts at Sullivan Wright Technologies (SWT) say. That’s a text scam, and a convincing one, at that. Right now, some of the top culprits are late toll fees, missed package deliveries and appealing, out-of-the-blue job opportunities. While the content of these unsolicited messages may vary, the cybercriminals’ tactics remain consistent. Their goal: to get us to engage so they can gain access to our data.
So, how can we protect ourselves against cybercriminals’ attempts? We asked the SWT team for some pro guidance:
1. Do not press Y. If you do, your phone will recognize the unknown number as a trusted sender, bypassing any existing protective measures. A response can also signal to the scammer that your number is active, making you a prime target for future outreach, especially if cybercriminals decide to sell your information.
2. Ignore unknown senders. As a general rule, if you don’t know the number, you shouldn’t answer the text. Responding to a message — even a simple “Hi, how are you?” — or clicking on an innocuous-looking link gives scammers an opening to extract sensitive information. Ideally, you should delete the text and block the sender to avoid receiving future communications.
3. Don’t overshare. Our personal information is valuable, which is why scammers want it. The less you divulge in the public sphere, the better. Even if you don’t disclose highly sensitive details like your bank account number, providing even minor intel, such as the name of your employer or financial institution, can expose you to risks.
4. Always verify. Cybercriminals often try to lull victims into a false sense of security before initiating a scam, even including localized details based on your area code. If you can’t determine whether a text is trustworthy, you can validate the message by visiting the alleged sender’s legitimate website or contacting them directly.
5. Flag text scams. While it’s impossible to prevent text scams entirely, you can help deter future outreach by reporting attempts to your mobile carrier. You can also forward fraudulent messages to 7726 (SPAM) or alert the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
There’s a reason why scammers continue to send us texts. As they refine and improve their tactics, their attempts sometimes work. But as SWT reminds us, cybercriminals can’t obtain our personal information or infiltrate our systems if we don’t respond to their messages. For more tips on navigating potential cybersecurity risks, visit sullivanwright.com.
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