Let me tell you about the text message I almost replied to last week.
It looked legit: ‘Your package is delayed – click for details.’ I almost tapped the link before catching myself. Later, I saw the FBI’s warning about a surge in ‘smishing’ scams – SMS phishing designed to steal passwords or install malware. This one? It’s targeting smartphone users with fake alerts about packages, bank issues, or urgent updates. And it’s working.
## Why This Scam Feels Different
The FBI mentioned attackers using AI-assisted tools to personalize messages. That means instead of generic texts, you might see your name, recent purchase info, or location-specific details. Creepy? Yep. Surprising? Not if you’ve seen how fast scammer tactics evolve.
## How to Spot the Red Flags
– **Urgency triggers**: “Act now!” or “Your account is locked!”
– **Mismatched URLs**: A link like ‘amazon-security-pdate.com’ (see that ‘pdate’ typo?)
– **Too much personal data**: Real banks won’t ask for passwords this way
– **Odd sender behavior**: Mysterious ‘verification’ requests that don’t match your app/email notifications
## What You Can Do About It Today
– **Never click ‘verify account’ links in texts**. Go to the official website/app directly
– **Double-check numbers**: Banks rarely text from 10-digit phone numbers
– **Install carrier security tools**: AT&T’s Enhanced Messaging or Verizon’s Safeguard
– **Report it**: Forward scam texts to 7726 (it’s SPAM spelled on old keypads)
A coworker fell for this last month. Thief drained her PayPal, impersonated her on social media for a week. She didn’t realize clicking a link in what looked like a delivery text could do that.
But here’s the good news: awareness stops these attacks. The FBI’s warning already hashtagged #StopSmishing might’ve just saved your phone from getting hijacked. Now you know to hit ‘delete’ instead of ‘click.’
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*Further reading: [Tom’s Guide breakdown on smishing prevention](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/online-security/fbi-issues-warning-to-all-smartphone-users-a-dangerous-new-scam-could-be-at-your-door)*