FBIs warning to iPhone, Android users: Delete these smishing texts now
The FBI has issued a nationwide warning about a new wave of “smishing” attacks spreading across the United States.Smishing texts are fraudulent messages sent via SMS (Short Message Service) or text messaging with the intent to trick recipients into revealing personal information, such as passwords, credit card details or other sensitive data.The term “smishing” is a combination of “SMS” and “phishing,” referring to deceptive tactics used to manipulate individuals into providing confidential information.Cybercriminals have registered more than 10,000 domains to fuel these scams, which target iPhone and Android users with fraudulent text messages designed to steal personal and financial information.Authorities urge recipients to delete any suspicious messages immediately.A new report from cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, the company’s research division that specializes in threat intelligence and incident response, reveals that these scams lure victims into providing sensitive data, including credit card and bank account details.Initially centered on fraudulent toll payment notifications, the campaign has expanded to include fake delivery service alerts, tricking users into clicking malicious links.For months, state and local authorities have been raising alarms about the toll scam, which falsely claims that recipients owe unpaid toll fees.The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that clicking on these links not only risks financial theft but also exposes victims to identity fraud.The fraudulent messages follow a common pattern: they claim that an unpaid bill requires immediate action to avoid penalties.
The text includes a link directing users to a payment portal—this is where the scammers’ vast network of domains comes into play.Since Apple’s iMessage blocks suspicious links, scammers now instruct users to copy and paste the URL into their web browser, making detection harder.Cybersecurity experts believe that the scam opera...