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We spend enough time sending SMS so that it is second nature, but that does not mean that we should lower our guard. Before clicking on the next incoming message , you must be aware of the potential risks. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that people in the United States total of $ 330 million To send scams by SMS last year, which represents more than double the losses reported in 2021, and almost five times which was reported in 2019.

And if you think you are too smart to fall for one of these drawbacks, think again. The crooks have become Savvier with their patterns over time, especially with regard to texts. These scams increased at the start of the pandemic and increased since. Do you want to make sure what messages are red flags? Read more to discover the five texts that experts warn are almost always scams.

Read this then: The FBI issues a new warning on the latest scams designed to "steal your money".

When you expect a package, you can register for delivery monitoring information sent directly to your phone. But most of the legitimate delivery companies will not send you SMS if you have had trouble depositing your package. Instead, they will usually leave one " missed delivery "Notice at your door, according to the Better Business Office (BBB).

In this spirit, the text warning you that there has been a problem with your delivery probably comes from a crook, and not from the American postal service (USPS), UPS or FEDEX, Alexakis Alexakis , A technology expert and founder of the American technology company Pixelchefs, says Better life .

"They generally ask you to click on a link and enter your follow -up number, your delivery address or your payment details," explains Alexakis. "The crooks want to infect your device by malware, redirect to websites or steal your information."

Whether you check your bank application for your balance or send money to someone from Vemo, many of our finances are digital these days. Thus, obtaining a text which claims that one of your financial accounts has been suspended is sufficient to send anyone in a panic - and unfortunately, the crooks count on this subject. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Marlon Buchanan , A cybersecurity expert with more than two decades of experience and author of The personal cybersecurity manual , says that crooks can send suspended, closed, blocked or locked swindle texts, most often with regard to bank accounts or peer-to-peer payment services like Paypal or Venmo.

"They will give you a link or a phone number to call to unlock your account or keep it to close. They will lead to a crook who came out to get your money and / or identity," said Buchanan. "If you are concerned about your account, find a bank statement and call the number on it, or enter the bank's URL directly and discover online."

Authentication with two factors (2FA) has become a popular security measure, in which a Single password (OTP) is sent to your phone and can have entered elsewhere to check your identity and keep your account secure, by technology.

On the other hand, you could really put your information in danger if you fall into an OTP scam, as a message providing you with an Amazon code that you have not asked.

"These are texts that pose as coming from a service you use that asks you to send them code 2FA," says Buchanan. "They will generally say that someone has tried to access your account, and if it was not you (and it was not), please send a" reset code "that the service sent you."

But it is not really Amazon who sends you a code. Instead, it probably comes from a bad actor who tries to attract you to abandon the code so that they can access your account, according to Buchanan.

"The crook has your phone number and is already trying to connect to your account, which has launched an authorization 2FA. This is the last part he needs to access your account," he warns. "Never send a 2FA code by SMS or by e-mail. Enter only on the site that asked for the code in the first place."

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If you are lucky, a text out of blue offering you a loan of $ 5,000 may seem a gift from above. But if it seems too good to be true, it is generally the case - especially in this case, according to Robbie Baskins , A approved financial analyst and founder of Voddler.

"These are generally scams because they require initial costs or request personal information for demand," explains Baskins.

The FTC also warned against the climb Loan diagrams in advance in July 2022.

"The crooks do not disclose the costs before asking for a loan. Squaring lenders could say that you have been approved for a loan. But they then say that you have to pay them before you can get money. is a scam ", the agency indicated. "Any initial fresh that the lender wishes to perceive before granting the loan is a signal to move away, especially if you are told that it is for" insurance ", treatment", or simply "paperons". ""

Hearing the internal income from Service (IRS) can be stressful, no matter what it is. But if a scary message warns you of a tax problem appears on your phone, rest assured that it is not at all IRS. As the agency explains on its website, it is "not launch a contact with taxpayers by SMS. ""

The crooks hope that the threat of a financial sanction, a trial or even an arrest warrant will make you ignore the fact that government agencies will not threaten you with frightening texts, according to Buchanan.

"They will tell them that you must contact them immediately to eliminate the problem, but that the contact details lead to a crook to try to obtain your financial and identity information," he explains.