Your phone buzzes.The text reads, "Your package is delayed.
Confirm your address here." A little later, it's a text message about an unpaid toll, suspicious bank activity or an account that will be locked unless you act now.That's how scam texts work.They don't always look wild or obviously fake.
They look routine, urgent and easy to deal with in a hurry.The good news: You don't need to memorize every scam.
You just need a quick way to test suspicious messages before you tap.Here's the simple scam text test to run before you click, pay or share anything.CyberGuy Live: Missed "Sick of Spam?" Get the replay and checklistOur free CyberGuy Live class, "Sick of Spam?", has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our spam-stopping checklist.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you step by step through simple ways to reduce robocalls, spam texts, junk email and unwanted messages.You’ll also learn how to curb political texts, clean up your inbox and spot messages that could put your personal information at risk.Get the free replay and checklist now at CyberGuyLive.com.FAKE SHINYHUNTERS SEXTORTION EMAIL USES CARNIVAL BREACH DATAScam texts often imitate delivery companies, banks, toll agencies and online services to pressure people into clicking dangerous links.
(Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If a text asks you to click, pay, verify, sign in or fix a problem, run through these checks first.Are you actually waiting for that package? Do you use that bank? Did you recently drive on a toll road? If the answer is no, treat the message as suspicious.Even if the answer is yes, don't assume it's real.
Scammers rely on coincidence.They send thousands of similar messages knowing that some recipients will be waiting for a package or use the company being impersonated.Urgency is one of the biggest red flags.
Watch for phrases like:A real company may send an urgent alert, but scammers use pressure to stop you from checking whether the message is legitimate.Take a breat...