In this guide I am going to explain to you what signs will help you identify a suspicious SMS and what steps you should follow when you receive an SMS on your mobile.
In this guide I am going to explain you What should you do if you receive a suspicious SMS?. First, I’ll show you the different signs that will help you identify if you’re experiencing a fraudulent message. Then, whether you’ve just received a dangerous SMS or you’ve already fallen victim to a scam, I show you what to follow. What I am telling you here is of great interest to you.
How to know if an SMS is really malicious?
The first step you should take is to check if an SMS is really fake This is important, because the truth is that not all messages you receive will be dangerous. For example, Your bank may send you a confirmation code to make a transfer. This way, the entity will be able to verify your identity and carry out the operation. This is what we know as Validation SMS.
The fact that some SMS messages are legitimate makes it more difficult to identify those that are fake or have a scam behind them Fortunately, malicious messages have some common characteristics that make them easy to detect. Let’s see what they are.
A link is included
I have already warned you that some legitimate messages may also contain a link. Without further ado, the telephone company you just hired may send you a link to download your new contract. with everything, The most common thing is that SMS does not include links. If you see that there is one, and above all, if the text tells you to click on it urgently, be careful.
It comes from an entity with which you have no connection
This is a clear example of fake SMS
The most common thing is that scammers send a large number of messages, without taking into account the services contracted by the recipient. Imagine you are a BBVA customer and you receive an SMS from Banco Santander. No matter how many warnings you have about the possible closure of your account or how much you owe the entity, you don’t have to do anything. You are not a customer of that bank and therefore, it is normal that the SMS is part of a scam.
There are many spelling mistakes in the text
Many cheats They do not operate from Spain. Therefore, it is logical that they make spelling mistakes when they write in Spanish. It is true that we can all make mistakes, even banks or administrations, but if you receive a valid SMS from a Spanish entity, the most natural thing is to be careful with its spelling. In fact, if you look at the image attached in the previous section, the expression is used Santander Bank. Additionally, several punctuation marks are missing.
The number that sent you the SMS is too long
and, if in addition to length, There is a foreign prefix, the best thing is that you won’t believe it at all. It is not normal for a bank, SEPE or any other national organization to use a foreign phone to send you messages
Check the content of the SMS
This is probably one of the most important points. The content of the message will be Reveal if it’s a scam or not. Valid SMS usually contains information to execute procedures or authenticate to an app. On the other hand, it is also possible that you will receive spam via SMS, but it almost always starts with the word PUBLI.
The point is, if the SMS uses an urgent tone, it tells you about some serious event, like you owe money to the Treasury or your bank account will be blocked, and furthermore, it contains a link where you can provide personal information, Which is probably a scam.
To avoid confusion, remember that the post office, the public administration or your bank will never ask you for personal information such as username, card number or password.
Search the content of the message on the Internet
The Mossos d’Esquadra’s X account warns of the dangers of a scam
At Andro4all we echo The most relevant scam For our readers, whether they come via SMS, WhatsApp or any other medium. In fact, we have already told you about the most common scams according to the FBI or yes fraud.
Another way to learn about the tactics used by scammers is to consult Accounts on X (Twitter) of the National Police and Civil Guard. These bodies, together with the regional police, usually crack down on scams.
In short, if you think an SMS might be suspicious, my advice is to do one Fast web search See if any media has echoed it.
You should do this if you receive a suspicious SMS
Well, imagine that by reviewing the various symptoms mentioned in the previous section, You have come to the conclusion that you are dealing with a fraudulent SMS. What should you do?
The simple answer to this question consists of only four letters: something. The best thing to do is delete the message and forget about it. Just because you received an SMS on your device does not mean that your information has been stolen or that your account is in danger.
Actually, as a computer scientist I’ve always thought that The best antivirus is the user himself, and with fake SMS I think the same thing happens. If you manage to identify them correctly and detect suspicious elements in them, you will be safe.
Reporting is something you can do
Not all scams have to do with bank accounts or public administration. There are people trying to steal your Netflix account
It is possible that the message reaching you is already known to the concerned authorities. Now, whether you’ve been stung or not, it doesn’t hurt to report the case. This can help police stop scammers or, at the very least, warn other citizens so they don’t fall into the trap.
Here are some links of interest that you should consult:
Have you already fallen for the scam?
If you’re falling for scams, here’s something Recommendations that will help you manage the situation Correctly:
- Control the damage. Check what information has been stolen from you. Check your apps, especially banking ones, to check if everything is fine
- Report to authorities. File a report if you fall for a scam. In this way, the authorities will be able to give you the necessary assistance and help you follow the entire procedure, especially if you have lost money.
- Protect your information. Change passwords for all apps and services, especially those related to money
- Avoid reading again. Before clicking on a link in an SMS, remember that it could be a scam. Check out the symptoms mentioned in this article to prevent this from happening to you again.
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