Spam texts can be more than just annoying

FORT MYERS, Fla. Few things are as annoying as when you fumble around for your cellphone after it alerts you to a text message, only to discover it was spam.

But the annoyance is a small problem compared to what can happen if you click on the link in the text. Malware can steal all the information on your phone and stop it from working.

Some of those links carry the same virus that shut down Twitter, PayPal and Amazon in October.

“There are a wide variety of text message hacks that can occur today — everything from hacktivism to actually owning your phone with viruses and malware,” said Morey Haber, vice president of technology and cybersecurity for BeyondTrust, a data security firm.

The practice of trying to get people to click on links in text messages is common enough that it has a name — “smishing.”

Smishers send text messages out to random numbers with the idea that if they cast a large enough net, someone will be gullible enough to click the link. The source of those random numbers is often the victims themselves.

“If you go online [and] do any online shopping, they usually ask for your phone number. If you put in your mobile number, you don’t know where that information is going to go,” Hodges University Identity Fraud Institute Director Carrie Kerskie said. “It could be for legitimate purposes, but also some of these companies will end up selling or sharing your phone number with other organizations.”

How to prevent, report ‘smishing’

Here’s what to do the next time you receive a spam text:

• If you don’t remember opting in for texts, don’t click on attachments or links in texts you receive.
• Don’t follow any opt-out directions.
• Block the number the text came from.
• Forward the message to 7726. Most cellphone providers investigate messages sent to that number.
• Report the message to the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.
• Check out apps designed to help you stop spam texts from coming, like Mr. Number, SMS Blocker and Text Blocker.

Spam text policies

Several major cellphone carriers, like Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T, have their spam policies posted online.

AT&T sent a statement about its spam policy:

• AT&T Call Protect is a free service that was announced in December. It automatically blocks fraud calls and gives screen alerts for suspected incoming spam calls. It works for eligible AT&T wireless customers with HD Voice.
• Our website has a form where customers can report unwanted calls and texts to help us block future calls.