Fake texts about parcels and bank accounts now come without the spelling mistakes that once gave them away, so a clean message proves nothing.
A text saying your parcel is stuck or your bank account is locked may be a scam, even if it looks perfect. These fake messages are called smishing, which means scam texts sent by SMS. They keep working because they look like the everyday messages people already get.
Smishing texts often pose as banks, couriers and online platforms. Others promise prizes or cash rewards, or start a friendly chat to win trust. Links lead to fake websites built to collect personal information. Scammers can send huge numbers of texts at once, and they can change tactics when people start to recognize the tricks.
Timing helps them. A message can land while you are busy at work, shopping or getting ready for bed. A warning that your account will be suspended, or that you owe an unexpected fee, pushes you to click before you stop to think.
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre warns that generative AI can create convincing material "without the translation, spelling and grammatical mistakes that often reveal phishing." Scammers can also copy the branding and writing style of real companies. A text that uses your name and gets some details right is not necessarily genuine.
Anyone with a mobile phone. People who bank on their phone, track parcels or use online shopping platforms are especially likely to get messages that look believable. Still, not every text is a scam. A short check of anything unusual is enough, especially when it asks for money or account details.
The steps are in the alert box above. A few extras: avoid replying to suspicious texts, because that confirms your number is active, and keep your phone's software updated. In the UK, forwarding a suspicious text to 7726 is free and lets your mobile provider investigate the sender.
Scam-filtering tools may help flag or block suspicious messages and links, but no tool catches every scam. If you already clicked a link, there is no need to panic. It does not necessarily mean your data was accessed. Leave the page and act quickly. If you downloaded an app or file, run a security scan or ask an expert for help.
Check any unexpected text about money or an account through the official app or website, never the link in the message.
Deputies in the Upstate area say scammers are calling while posing as police officers, and a scary call can cost you money or personal details.
Read more: Sheriff's deputies warn of scam calls from fake police officersNew York's attorney general released a guide to help veterans and service members spot pension scams, shady VA benefits offers and phishing before money is lost.
Read more: New York warns veterans and service members about scamsCallers claiming to be U.S. Marshals say you missed a grand jury subpoena and face arrest. The sheriff's office says it is a scam and wants you to hang up.
Read more: Fake federal warrant calls are targeting Kentucky residents
