While there’s so much advanced technology around to keep you safe these days, there are also a lot of risks that come with it.
These days, one of the most common ways people are tricked into giving their personal information to the wrong people is through texting and email scams. There are a lot of scammers and phishing schemes that pose as your bank, relatives, your insurance company, etc. Some people may feel like they have enough self-control to dodge those things, but as tech has advanced, so have these scams. Using information from tech experts and banks, read more about a common bank scam you should dodge this year below.
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What Texting Scams Typically Look Like
One of today's most common forms of communication is texting. There are many people out there who hardly ever talk on the phone because they're so reliant on quick conversations via text. It's gotten to the point where we can have just about any service or any person text us.
One of the services people get to text them is through their bank. People will often confirm purchases via text and get updates about their accounts. However, this means that there are also a lot of scams that can disguise themselves as banking notifications. These texts might give you fraudulent account 'alerts,' warn you about suspicious activity, encourage you to apply for a new credit card, etc.
"The messages might ask you to give some personal information - like how much money you make, how much you owe, or your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number - to claim your gift or pursue the offer," wrote the Federal Trade Commission. "Or they might tell you to click on a link to learn more about the issue. Some links might take you to a spoofed website that looks real but isn't."
What To Do If You Think You're Getting Fake Bank Messages
There are so many reasons why these types of texts might start reaching your phone. Perhaps you put your information into an untrustworthy website, or your phone number is available on some kind of public platform. The key to avoiding actually getting scammed is actually quite simple - you ignore the texts.
As convincing as these texts may seem, ignoring them is the best way to ensure you don't put yourself or your sensitive information at risk. Additionally, you should ensure that your bank has its official app, which can send you proper notifications about your account and give you all the information you need with just a few taps and swipes.
Instead of answering a text, you can also give them a call through their official customer service phone number to confirm any suspicious alerts you've gotten through the spam texts.
