Clicking on a link in a spam text message could install malware that can collect information from your phone. Once the spammer has your information, it can be sold to marketers or, worse, identity thieves. It can also lead to unwanted charges on your cell phone bill.
What do you do if you click on a phishing text?
What to Do After Clicking on a Phishing Link
- Disconnect Your Device. The first thing you need to do is immediately disconnect the compromised device from the Internet.
- Back Up Your Files. Now that you are disconnected from the Internet, you should back up your files.
- Change Your Credentials.
- Set Up a Fraud Alert.
Can opening a text infect your phone?
Can you get a virus from a text message? Simply opening and reading an SMS text message is unlikely to infect your phone, but you can get a virus or malware if you download an infected attachment or click a link to a compromised website.
Do you have to confirm your phone number with a text message?
Phone numbers must be verified via text message, which is when the confirmation text is sent out. Since the text message is going to you, and not the scammer, it is impossible for the scammer to confirm the account and use your number. To end these text messages, reply STOP.
Is it OK to answer a text message?
People’s tendency to treat text messages with a greater sense of urgency than they do emails
What to do if you get a text asking for personal information?
Never reply to a message asking you to provide personal information. If you suspect, for some reason, that such a message may legitimate–for example, if you are buying a house and your real estate agent texts you a question–contact the sender by calling him or her, and provide the relevant information after recognizing his or her voice. 4.
What to do if someone sends you a spam text?
AT will reply with a text asking for the phone number of the spam text. Reply with that number. AT will launch an investigation and prevent other customers from receiving spam from the reported number. Or you can fill out AT’s online spam reporting form.