Posted by Charlie on 10 February 2012
Many wary internet users have long been used to the term ‘phishing’, which refers to fraudulent email messages that attempt to trick consumers into releasing personal details such as financial information, including bank account numbers and passwords. Now mobile phone users are being educated to be aware of ‘smishing’ scams as well.
‘Smishing’ occurs when a mobile phone user receives fraudulent text messages that attempt to entice the consumer into releasing the same kinds of personal details that phishing attacks seek to obtain. The scam uses SMS messaging systems. The typical smishing message pretends to originate from an authoritative source, such as your bank. Unwary consumers may be lured into divulging financial information because they believe they are communicating the information only to trusted staff at the bank itself.
Other forms of smishing messages use the lure of a prize to convince customers to divulge information. This latter type of attack has recently caused mobile phone operator O2 to issue a warning to its customers, hundreds of which had responded to fraudulent text messages. In that particular case, the lure offered was free calls. Customers that took the bait were taken to a fraudulent O2 website. When they logged on with their usual credentials, they inadvertently gave hackers the ability to access their O2 accounts.
O2 recommends that anyone who receives such a message does not activate the embedded link. Instead, contact O2 at once.