You have probably heard of phishing scams or emails meant to trick individuals into providing personal information in which scammers can then exploit. However, the FBI is now warning Americans about a new “smishing” scam, where ne'er-do-wells are using text messages under the guise of often used companies to acquire personal information. Veuer’s Tony Spitz has the details.
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00:00You've probably heard of phishing scams, or emails meant to trick individuals into providing personal information in which scammers can then exploit.
00:07However, the FBI is now warning Americans about a new smishing scam, where ne'er-do-wells are using text messages to acquire personal information.
00:16The Bureau says the texts appear to come from toll road services, delivery companies, and government agencies.
00:21And they use fake domains demanding payments which require personal and financial information to complete.
00:26The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center says they have received some 2,000 complaints since this time last year, revealing a growing problem.
00:34Here's what they say to be on the lookout for.
00:36They warn that scammers usually follow a format, claiming that you owe a small amount of money for unpaid something.
00:42They will also warn of a late fee that is usually greater than the amount owed, then directing you to a payment portal.
00:48Experts say another red flag is the text delivery, as legitimate agencies will never send payment requests via SMS.
00:55The FBI says that simply clicking the link could allow scammers to collect valuable personal information, or even steal your identity.