How to Identify a Fake Text Message: 6 Red Flags to Watch Out For 

Signs of fake scam texts   

Below you can find some key signs indicating a scam text message:  

A sense of urgency 

Scammers always try to manipulate you by creating a sense of urgency. For example, they may say your account will be suspended if you don’t provide your personal information or you won’t be able to claim a “prize” without confirming your identity. 

If you received a suspicious text message that forces you to take immediate action, it’s likely a scam that forces you to act without thinking. 

Suspicious links and attachments 

In case the message contains a link to an external source you can’t recognize or a file attachment with a strange name, chances are the message contains malware. Scammers often try to spoof legitimate sources by changing one symbol in the link hoping you won’t notice the difference and click on a phishing link believing you’re accessing a safe source. 

Texts with information irrelevant to you

Scammers send similar fake messages to anyone whose contact information they have, so they don’t know any specific about you. As a result, untrustworthy text messages usually sound generic and can be sent to anyone. If you see that the message says something completely unrelated to you, it’s probably another scam. 

The message was sent from a weird phone number 

Scammers usually use spoofed phone numbers that look way longer compared to common ones. When you see that the sender has an uncommon or hidden phone number, there is a high probability that the message is a scam. 

Impersonation of a popular brand or service

To look legitimate and convince you that you are dealing with a trusted person/organization, scammers attempt to impersonate popular brands or services. For instance, you may get a message from Amazon that you’ve won a prize or discount, so you need to share your personal and financial information to claim your reward.  

Poor grammar and spelling 

Fake text messages are often written in poor language, containing misspelled words and grammar errors. Needless to say, messages from legitimate senders will never have grammar mistakes, so it’s a clear sign of a scammy text message. 

These signs are extremely common for fake text messages, so you can spot them in various types of scams. But what are these types? Let’s discuss in more detail. 

Common types of fake text messages

There are dozens of different types of scams, but the following ones are the most common examples of fake spam texts. Take a closer look at them to safeguard yourself from being tricked into a fraud.

Scareware message

A scareware message is designed to frighten or shock you to force you to take a specific action, such as purchasing a software or service, clicking on a link, or providing personal information. The goal of scareware is to exploit your fear and urgency to get them to download malicious software, provide payment information, or reveal sensitive data. 

Smishing 

Smishing is a type of cyber attack that uses text messages to deceive you into leaking personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data. Such messages usually demonstrate all the signs of a fake text we’ve described above. Conveying a sense of urgency, making a too-good-to-be-true offer, and sounding awkward are typical signs of smishing messages. 

Tech support scam

Scammers often impersonate tech support representatives of services you use to look legit in your eyes. Such fake messages usually require you to verify your account or provide your personal and financial information to avoid your profile being suspended or deleted. 

Romance text

This kind of scam message works a little bit differently. Scammers attempt to gradually build trust with you, making you believe you’re talking to a person who finds you attractive and is looking for a romantic relationship with you. 

But all of a sudden, this person asks you for money because they appeared in some emergency situation or want to buy a ticket to come to meet you in person. Beyond a doubt, the online “romance” ends as soon as you send money. 

Delivery scam

Many people purchase things online, which means they get them delivered by a shipping/postal service. These companies often use basic SMS messages to notify you about your order status, which means these messages are very easy to fake. Fraudsters may say that there has been an issue with a delivery of your parcel to your door, so you need to follow the link in the message to reschedule your delivery. 

Even though all these scams may not look silly, the consequences of falling into a spam trap still can be serious, so we need to talk about them as well. 

The risks of replying to fake text messages 

If you feel extremely tempted to reply to a fake text message or follow a phishing link inside it, just remember what risks you’re going to take: 

• Identity theft. You’ll leak your personal information to fraudsters, who may create fake social media profiles or worse, make bank accounts for taking loans on your behalf. Definitely not worth it.
• Malware. By following a link or downloading an attached file from a scam message, you’ll infect your device with malware that may be bad enough to damage your device beyond repair. 
• Financial loss. Sharing your financial information with scammers will let them access your accounts and steal all your funds.
• Emotional distress. Dealing with these scams can be frustrating and time-consuming, causing stress and annoyance. Even though you manage to keep your personal information and money untouched, you’ve already wasted your mental health on a lousy scam. Satisfying your curiosity with fake scam messages isn’t worth your emotional stability. 

That is why we suggest you follow basic tips on what to do if you’ve received a fake text message. Keep on reading to learn about them! 

What to do if you get a fake text message scam 

Follow these simple tips to protect yourself from being scammed when you get fake messages: 

• Don’t reply. Probably the best way to react to fake texts. Fraudsters become more inventive each day, but there’s nothing they can do when there’s no reaction. So just ignore the message and you’ll be fine.  
• Block sender. To avoid any further scam attempts and preserve security of your device, add the sender to a blacklist. That’s the most reliable way to ensure such fake messages won’t harm you.  
• Report about the scam. In many countries online scams are considered a crime, so you should report about it. Call the police or a specific governmental agency responsible for cyber security in your country. In such a way, you’ll help fight scams and fraudsters, minimizing the risk of getting another scam attempt.  
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) app. To ensure top-grade online security, consider using a VPN app. A VPN encrypts your Internet traffic and connects you to a remote server so that nobody can intercept and steal your personal information. 

While the first three tips are pretty straightforward, using a VPN requires an additional explanation. Bear with us to learn why using VPN is so important for protecting your sensitive information. 

Why VPN is important for your online security 

Using a VPN app is an effective method to enhance your Internet privacy. By directing all your online traffic through a secure tunnel to a remote server, a VPN ensures that your online activities remain private and anonymous, protecting your personal information from being tracked or accessed by third parties.

However, it’s important to avoid free VPN services, as they often compromise your privacy by selling your data to third parties. Instead, consider using a premium VPN app like VeePN, which offers comprehensive security features: 

• Strong encryption. To protect your data, VeePN uses AES 256-bit encryption, the best security protocol available. It would take hackers thousands of years to decrypt even a single bit of your information. 
• Advanced IP address masking. VeePN boasts 2,500 remote servers across 89 locations, allowing you to effortlessly connect to any server to conceal your identity and true location. 
• NetGuard. This feature blocks malware and malicious pop-up ads in your web browser, enabling you to surf the Internet without worrying about bumping into harmful websites.
• Double VPN. For enhanced data security, VeePN offers Double VPN, an extra security feature to route and encrypt your traffic through two separate remote servers, making it even more difficult to access. 
• Breach Alert. It is a separate application that comes with VeePN antivirus as part of a security bundle. If your personal information, such as your email address or login credentials, is compromised, the application will instantly notify you so you can take action. Unsure of what to do next? Read our dedicated article to learn the steps you should take if your device has been hacked.

VeePN is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and devices, making it an excellent choice for protecting your personal information. With one subscription, you can secure up to 10 devices simultaneously. Download VeePN now and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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