In this year of COVID-19, multiple high-profile attacks are founded. SMS attacks are considered low profile attacks, but they can cause a big problem if the appropriate action is not taken.

Short Messages Service (SMS) scams are work on social engineering attacks that includes email phishing attacks named smishing (a combination of SMS and Phishing). In this attack, the primary motive of the attacker was to steal the information from the victim’s system and take other benefits too.

To know about it in detailed read the upcoming section.

Operating of SMS Attack

The latest version of this attack is in the form of a text message that alerts the users about fake offers and incoming package delivery, as the user clicks on the message the hacker steals the information. In some scams, the message on clicking redirect the victims to another website and offers a small gift while in return it demands to participate in a survey.

That survey was worked as the phishing page and asked about credit card information for shipping, as the victims enter their data, the hackers steal the information.

Another version of this attack work as they are pretending to the official bank and they tricks to get the victims to account details. Once the detail is entered, a malware Emotet is installed into the victim’s system.

This scam also varies according to the situations for example in an epidemic the hackers sent an SMS related to COVID-19 and threatens the victims with fake news. All these types of scams are designed to surprise you with the upgrade.

Why People Got Trapped By This Scam?

Multiple hackers are packed with the back-forth fight and attack smartphone users using the larger arsenal mobile scam techniques. The attacks have two advantages, they can easily infect with the help of leveraging techniques that result in the evolutionary process. Another one is the victims are not aware of the conflict happens.

The entire working of this attack depends on the misdirection or the steps taken by the user to excite the mind of the user and force them to do something by emotionally disarming them.

Another type of this attack is to trapped the known user. The victim’s who send the text messages to known users are related to their needs like Wildfiresn Politics, Crimes, Pandemics, Missing persons and by referencing them with current events. Scammers hope to route the user defenses and force them to click on the link.

How to Prevent this Scam?

In case you are the victim of this scam, this is important to use application security, mobile phone security, and mobile protection plan. Also aware or trained the people with these tips;

• Never click on the unwanted messages that invite you. If the received message says that it’s from your bank and demands you to click on the link, then call your bank to verify the bank. If the received message is from the delivery service then it asks you to confirm the delivery, then immediately check the website and check your order if you booked so.
• Don’t get phished by someone who sent you branding or any personalization message that looks legal. Fake branding is the trick to phished the people.
• Immediately report to the authorities if you find any scan or unauthorized access, this will help you and other peoples.

Conclusion

Always aware of this fact that no one is offering you anything for free. Don’t get trapped by any scam text messages that prevent unauthorized access. Text scams are evolving day by day and updating themselves. Aware and train your staff to recognize and how to handle these types of scams and report unexpected messages.