You get a text. It looks legit. “Your package couldn’t be delivered. Click here to reschedule.” You’ve been ordering stuff online, so it makes sense… right?
But then you click. And just like that—your phone is compromised, your info is stolen, and your bank might be the next thing to vanish.
Welcome to the age of smishing.
What Is Smishing? (And Why It’s Sneakier Than You Think)
Smishing = SMS + Phishing. It’s when scammers send fake texts that look real to trick you into clicking links, downloading malware, or giving up sensitive information.
Unlike email spam, smishing feels personal because it lands right in your texts, often sounding like your bank, your delivery service, or even your job.
Why Smishing Works on Smart People
It’s not about being careless. These messages are designed to:
- Trigger urgency (“Act now or get locked out”)
- Mimic real businesses (with real logos and links)
- Catch you off guard when you’re multitasking
Scammers know that most people check texts quickly and act fast. That’s their window.
Common Smishing Scenarios (That Get People Every Day)
- Fake Delivery Texts: “FedEx: We missed you. Reschedule your delivery.”
- Bank Alerts: “Unusual activity detected. Click to verify.”
- Job Offers: “You’ve been selected for a remote role. Fill out this form.”
- Prize Scams: “You’ve won! Claim your gift now.”
- Family Emergencies: “Hey mom, I lost my phone. Can you send money here?”
And let’s be clear—many of these scams are written by AI, which means they’re clean, polished, and believable.
What Happens When You Click
You might:
- Be redirected to a fake login page
- Install malware unknowingly
- Expose your banking info or identity
- Give hackers access to your phone
Smishing doesn’t just steal—it invites more attacks, because once they know you’re vulnerable, they come back for more.
How to Recognize Smishing in 2025
🔹 Texts from unknown numbers pretending to be official businesses
🔹 Messages asking you to click a link urgently
🔹 Texts with poor grammar or surprisingly polished professional tone
🔹 Requests for personal info via SMS (which real companies don’t do)
🔹 Promises of prizes or threats of account closures
What You Should Do (And NOT Do)
✅ DO:
- Verify the source by going to the official website manually
- Report the number to your carrier or the FTC (forward to 7726)
- Enable spam protection in your phone settings
- Delete suspicious messages immediately
❌ DON’T:
- Click on any links you weren’t expecting
- Call numbers or reply to strange texts
- Share personal or financial info via text
- Assume texts from “known” contacts are always safe (they can be spoofed)