Criminals are using smartphone apps and text messages to lure vulnerable people into traps—some with purely financial consequences, and some that put the victims in actual physical jeopardy.
Targeted SMS phishing
In 2020, the FTC reported that US consumers lost $86 million as a result of scam texts, and the FCC went as far as to issue a warning about COVID-19 text scams.
Fleece apps and fake apps
Often, these applications are presented as free but feature in-app payments—including subscription fees that automatically kick in after a very short “trial period” that may not be fully transparent to the user.
Pigs to the slaughter
There is also a world of truly malicious applications that exist on the fringes of Apple’s and Google’s ecosystems. These apps use fake app stores and often require significant amounts of social engineering to get victims to install them (unless the target is someone already using a “cracked” device to intentionally get access to alternative app stores).
SAFETY TAKEAWAYS
– Your bank will not text you about your account unless you have specifically signed up for text alerts.
– The same goes for the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and any other organization with your personal identifying information.
– Don’t click any links from a text message. Verify the message through a different channel, like the institution’s phone app or its website.
– Look for subscription requirements that seem unreasonable or out of place for the service.
– Be sure to do some due diligence on people who contact you through mobile apps.
– Only install applications from within the app store of your platform, and never follow a link someone provided to go to an app installation page.
Get in touch and let’s talk
ACUMEN IT
www.acumenit.com
yourpartner@acumenit.com
(864) 271-9000
#CyberCrime #ProtectYourself
