Scammers won’t target me

What is a text scam

Text messages are sent by scammers who are looking to get access to your:

·  personal information

·  financial details

·  phone, or

·  money.

Scammers are opportunistic and don’t necessarily target any particular person or business. Usually, they cast their net wide in the hope of capturing as many people as possible in their scam.

How they work

The types of text message scams changes all the time but there are common themes to be aware of. 

Most scam messages will include:

· A hook to try and convince you it's an authentic message. For example, this could be a message claiming to be from a courier who wants to deliver a parcel, or your bank asking you to authorise a payment. 

·  An urgent call to action. This includes saying your account details or other sensitive personal information has been exposed or shared with others.

·  A link for you to click. This will usually take you to a separate web page where you'll be asked to provide personal or financial details, or download/update software on your phone.

 ·  The wording in scam text messages changes all the time, so it's important to stay alert and watch out for the signs of a scam.

Top tips

Don't click on any of the links in a text message if it seems out of the ordinary, or

it comes from an organisation who wouldn't usually contact you by text.

These links will most likely take you to an insecure website, where any of the information you provide could be accessed and used by a scammer.

If the message claims to be from an organisation like a bank or courier company, contact them directly (using a phone number you find on their official website) to confirm the text is real before you act on it. 

Remember, your bank will never ask you to provide your password or login details over the phone or via text message.

Text scams are a growing problem, but with the right knowledge and precautions, you can protect yourself and your information.

Remember - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Stay safe!

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