Text Message Phishing Scams – Tech Tip For June 22, 2022

 

Text Message Phishing Scams – Tech Tip For June 22, 2022

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This month we are recapping the most important tech tips that we have shared you in 2022 so far. This week we are going to recap our March 2022 cybersecurity tech tips but with a little twist. We’re going to cover “Smishing” which stands for text message (or SMS) phishing scams.

“Smishing” occurs when scammers send fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information – things like your password, account number, or Social Security number. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers.

The scammers use a variety of stories to try to rope you in such as:

• promise free prizes, gift cards or coupons
• offer you a low or no interest credit card
• promise to help you pay off your student loans
• they’ve noticed some suspicious activity on your account
• claim there’s a problem with your payment information
• send you a fake invoice and tell you to contact them if you didn’t authorize the purchase
• send you a fake package delivery notification

If you receive a text message that you weren’t expecting and/or you don’t recognize the phone number it came from:

• First and foremost, do not give personal information and don’t click on any links. Legitimate companies won’t ask for information about your account by text.
• If you think the message might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real, not the information in the text message.

There are many ways you can filter unwanted text messages or stop them before they reach you. The simplest way is to block the messages. Here’s how to do this:

• From an iPhone:  how to filter and block messages on an iPhone
• From an Android: how to block a phone number on an Android phone.

You can also report spam text messages:

• Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
  • How to report spam or junk in the Messages app
  • How to report spam on an Android phone
• Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

You can check out all of our March 2022  Cybersecurity tech tips here:  March 2022 – TechWise Group | A Fresh Take On Tech 

If you need additional guidance about your business cybersecurity posture, contact us.

Important Microsoft Announcements:

• Microsoft will be rolling out price increases for seat based CSP licensing (Microsoft 365, Office 365) starting in January 2022. In addition, they will be introducing annual and potentially 3-year licensing agreements. The pricing changes will substantially increase the price for month to month CSP agreements. Please contact us at  gettechwise@techwisegroup.com to understand how you can minimize the impact of the upcoming price increases.
• Microsoft will begin the rollout of Windows 11 through Windows Update as an update to Windows 10 machines starting on October 5, 2021. This update can be postponed. If you need assistance with controlling the rollout of Windows 11 to your organization, please contact TechWise Group or your IT department.
• Starting November 1, 2021, the following versions of Outlook for Windows, as part of Office and Microsoft 365 Apps, will not be able to connect with Office 365 and Microsoft 365 services: