EE has warned phone owners to be on the look-out for dangerous texts.
They try to steal your private info or money – and can take it all in a matter of seconds.
UnsplashBe wary of scammers targeting you via text messages[/caption]
In an official EE memo, the company warned over “smishing”.
That’s a variant of phishing – where someone tricks you by pretending to be a trusted person or company – that takes place over text.
They’re very common and can be easy to fall for, so you must be extremely careful to avoid it.
“If you receive a message requesting personal or financial information, such as personal security details, bank details or passwords, be aware that it could be a scam and therefore fraudulent,” EE advised.
There’s one common tactic that scammers often try to use.
The dangerous phrase that you need to look out for in texts is “act now”.
EE said that often “the sender uses an urgent tone” to try to rush you into making a decision.
Of course that’s not the only warning sign that you’re dealing with a dangerous scam text.
EE also warned of messages that ask you to hand over information or click links.
“It asks you to provide sensitive personal or financial information, passwords, or to make transactions by following a link in the message,” EE explained.
If you click a link in a scam message, it’s very dangerous.
You could end up having malware installed on your device, making scam purchases, or having your private info or money stolen.
Another key warning sign is when a message asks you to make a phone call.
“It asks you to call a certain number that is unknown to you,” EE said.
“If in doubt, contact the company via a reputable source like their website or contact number on statements.”