If you get a text from your own number, it’s almost certainly text message phishing (smishing). Don’t reply or tap any links. Delete it, and report it to your carrier if you can. Below are the smishing scams showing up most often and how to protect phones across your business in and around Panama City.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve all seen more texts from businesses. Stores send shipping updates and promos. Pharmacies ping you about refills. Doctor’s offices remind you about appointments. Texts are handy—and cybercriminals know it. They’ve moved their phishing from email to SMS in a big way.
Smishing jumped 328% in 2020, and in just the first half of 2021 it climbed nearly 700% more. As teams work more on the go, that makes mobile devices a bigger target.
Why Do Texts Sometimes Look Like They’re From Me?
That “text from yourself” isn’t a glitch. Attackers can spoof the sender so it appears to come from your own number. They do this with VoIP services and software made for impersonation.
Treat this as a clear warning sign of a scam. Don’t respond, don’t click, and don’t call any number in the message. Simply delete it. Many carriers also let you report spam texts—use that when available.
Common Text Message Phishing Scams to Expect
Smishing works well because many people don’t realize how exposed mobile numbers are. Lists can be bought legally for marketing, and breached data often ends up on the Dark Web. No wonder fewer than 35% of people know what smishing means.
Texts also hide clues you’d normally check in email. You can’t easily verify a sender address, and most of us don’t know the real number a brand uses for shipping alerts. Short links are common in SMS, and previewing where they go is harder on a phone.
- “There’s a problem with your delivery”. A message claims to be from USPS, FedEx, or another carrier. It says a package is stuck and needs more info. The link leads to a form that collects personal details for identity theft. Some versions ask for a small “release” fee to steal your card number.
- Fake appointment scheduling. After AT&T fiber was installed in one South Carolina neighborhood, a resident got a text pretending to schedule their install. The address in the message was wrong—another red flag. The goal was to get him to text back personal information.
- “Thanks for your payment—claim your free gift”. This vague thank-you doesn’t name a company. Because most of us paid some bill recently, people assume it’s legit. The promise of a reward is the hook; the link is the trap.
Do Your Work Phones Have the Basics Covered?
Smishing can trick users into installing malware or handing over sensitive data. Make sure your team’s phones and tablets have the essentials, like mobile antivirus and DNS filtering, and that staff know how to spot these messages.
If you want help locking down mobiles for your office around Bay County, get in touch. We’re happy to help.
