SCAM texts can be extremely difficult to spot – but you must know the warning signs.
A leading cyber-expert has revealed the clues that a dangerous scam message is lurking on your iPhone or Android.
It’s important to regularly check your texts to make sure you’re not being targeted.
The Sun spoke to Brad Freeman, Director of Technology at SenseOn, who revealed that scam messages will be increasingly difficult to identify.
“We all know that a message from a Prince looking to make a large deposit in our bank account is suspicious,” Brad told The Sun.
“However, scam messages are getting much harder to spot, this is because cyber criminals are now professionals with many of them working a traditional 9 to 5 with HR departments and employee of the month programs!
“Unfortunately scam messages are going to get worse thanks to AI.
“AI will allow attackers to generate more convincing and targeted messages further tipping the scales in the attacker’s favour.”
Thankfully there are some simple signs that will always give away a scam message on your phone.
Learning to spot these signs can save you from a bank-emptying scam nightmare.
The first sign, according to Brad, is that scam messages often have a sense of urgency.
This might include giving you a limited window of time to respond.
Scams are designed this way to rush you into acting without thinking it through properly.
But it’s best to take your time before taking any action – especially when money or private info is involved.
The second warning sign is that the text has a call to action, like verifying an activity or paying a fee.
It’s very rare that a legitimate text would ask you to do something like this.
So be extremely cautious if you receive any messages asking for personal details or money.
The third clue is when an unexpected text includes a link.
“Never click on a link in a message you receive,” Brad warned.
“If you need to verify something, use the official app or a web browser and type in the official and known website.
“Pay close attention to the URL in the message, it’s often a giveaway the message is malicious.”
If you see any texts that break one of these three rules, it’s best to just ignore it or delete it.
Otherwise you could find yourself the unwitting victim of a clever cyber-crook.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash
