Watch out for text message scams

Fraudsters use dubious text messages, or SMS, to deceive unsuspecting recipient into revealing personal information. Here's what to look out for.

Transcript

00:00Many of these spam or phishing campaigns are geared towards aspects of everyday life.

00:07I'm expecting a package, a file's been shared with me, I've been sent a contract.

00:12Scenarios that, at first glance, don't seem unusual.

00:18Like this text message, purportedly from the courier DHL.

00:22Clicking on the link redirects you to a webpage with a cookie banner.

00:26Upon confirming cookie settings, the fake website appears.

00:30Upon closer inspection, you'll notice this suspicious URL, a common red flag, and you should exit out immediately.

00:38The website looks deceptively real, but if you enter your card details here, you'll have a real problem.

00:44And pay attention to the payment methods.

00:47Paying in cryptocurrencies isn't a typical option on legitimate websites.

00:52Theoretically, the same phishing technique is possible via email, but advancements in spam filters mean it's less common.

01:00It's estimated that well over 90% of all emails are spam, but you won't see many of them in your inbox.

01:06That's because internet providers have taken very strong measures against spam.

01:11So of course the criminals go elsewhere, to social media, messenger services or SMS.