Tag

Text Message Scams

All articles tagged with #text message scams

technology7 hours ago•11 min saved

Samsung Messages to Sunset in 2026 as Android Embraces Google Messages

Samsung is quietly phasing out Samsung Messages in the U.S., with a July 2026 cutoff and a shift toward Google Messages to standardize RCS. Newer Galaxy devices already default to Google Messages, while Samsung Messages becomes less available. The change is real but not uniformly announced, creating room for scam texts; the guidance is to verify via official sources, set Google Messages as the default SMS app, ensure chat history transfers, and take steps to reduce personal data exposure to deter scams.

via Kurt the CyberGuy|

#android #google-messages #rcs

technology6 months ago•2 min saved

Scammers Use Fake Cell Towers and Texts to Target Victims

Cybercriminals are now using portable fake cell towers called SMS blasters that can send up to 100,000 texts per hour, impersonate any sender, and target phones within a large radius, making scams more widespread and harder to detect, with recent incidents reported across Asia, Europe, and South America.

via Futurism|

#cell-towers #cybercrime #scammers

world10 months ago•12 min saved

Rising Employment Scams Targeting Americans and Millennials: How to Spot and Avoid Them

Scam texts offering fake jobs are increasing, exploiting people's unemployment worries and the rise of online work, with scammers using sophisticated AI to craft convincing messages. These scams often seek personal data or money, and the vulnerable, especially younger generations and those anxious about jobs, are prime targets. Despite efforts, combating these scams remains challenging due to limited coordination among authorities and telecom companies, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and skepticism among consumers.

via Business Insider|

#cybersecurity #fraud-prevention #job-scams

technology2 years ago•5 min saved

"FTC Reveals Top 5 Text Message Scams to Watch Out For"

The Federal Trade Commission has released a list of the five most common text message scams, which include copycat bank fraud alerts, bogus gifts, fake package delivery problems, phony job offers, and fake retailer security alerts. Consumers are advised to keep a sharp eye on the texts they receive and to call or go to a website they know is real if they are unsure. Text message scams took consumers for $330 million in 2022, according to reports in the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database. Scam texts can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM).

via WGAL Susquehanna Valley Pa.|

#consumer-protection #fraud #ftc

scams2 years ago•4 min saved

Protect Yourself: How to Avoid Text Message Scams

Americans lost $330 million to fraudulent text messages in 2022, with the median loss reported by individual victims being $1,000, according to a report by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Scammers use text messages to offer rewards or to trick consumers into thinking someone has accessed their bank account. The FTC advises consumers not to click links or respond to unexpected text messages and to report all suspicious texts to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to forward the potential scam message to 7726. The most common types of text scams reported to the FTC were copycat bank fraud, bogus gifts, fake package delivery texts, phony job offers, and Amazon security alerts.

via CBS News|

#consumer-protection #fraud #ftc