Consumers may be opening more than just gifts this holiday; Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona says watch out for phishing emails and smishing text messages that exploit well-known shipping companies and retailers.

Scammers know people are ordering products from big brands—including Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart—and delivering goods through shippers—such as FedEx and UPS.

“Imposters are sending mass-messages to thousands of email addresses and phone numbers, in hopes that some recipients have recently made purchases and are expecting packages,” says Kim States, BBB President.

Be on alert for fraudulent confirmation requests, problem notices or prize offers.

If unexpected messages arrive, avoid sharing account numbers, clicking links or downloading attachments—designed to infect devices or steal identities. Use search engines to locate official contact information for sellers or shippers and then verify correspondence directly.

Find more scam avoidance advice at tucson.bbb.org/consumer-tips.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning of a  scam targeting cell phone users. “Smishing,” similar to “phishing,” uses text messages to bait consumers into divulging their personal information.

One form of the scam tricks consumers into believing their bank accounts have been frozen. The text message appears to come from the consumer’s bank and directs the victim to call a provided number to unfreeze the account. The number provided connects to the scammers, who ask for the victim’s personal information – account number, PIN and Social Security number.

The scam can take many forms, such as promising a free laptop, mortgage assistance or lottery winnings. Some texts might even offer a free product, such as a security app, to get you to click on a link which then downloads identity stealing software to your phone. Regardless of the tactic used, the overall objective is to steal your personal information.

According to online security firm Trusteer, cell phone users are three times more likely to fall for fake messages than computer users.

BBB offers these tips from AARP on how to protect your personal information from smishing texts:

• Do not reply. Replying to a spam text only verifies that your number is active, meaning more messages can be sent.
• Check with your bank directly. Separate from the text, look up your bank’s phone number and (more…)

A new year means a new scam, this time, targeting cell phone users. Like traditional “phishing,” “smishing” schemers often pose as banks or lottery sweepstakes asking customers to contact them immediately about a pressing issue that needs to be discussed.

Victims of the bank scam are often asked to call a toll-free number and provide information, such as their debit card or account number and password, to a fake automated system. Victims have complained they have received text messages claiming their bank account is frozen with a toll free number to call to clear things up.

“These hackers are looking for you to respond with vital information that can ultimately lead to identity theft,” said Kim States, BBB President. “In the cases of the lottery ‘smishing’ scam, hackers want you to wire over money before receiving your ‘prize,’ one of the biggest red flags of a ‘smishing’ scam.”

Text messages such as “Win cash now!” and “Short on cash? Reply here!” are all red flags that a lottery sweepstakes “smishing” scam is in the midst. Many of these messages come with embedded links that can ultimately spread viruses to the phone if clicked.

The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to do the following if they suspect they have fallen victim to a “smishing” scam.

Never reply to the text message. Schemers are preying on victims that text back and ultimately verify that the text has been sent to an active cell phone. If the message has a link in it, never click it. (more…)