Smishing /Phishing/Vishing

Smishing (a blend of “SMS” + “phishing”) is a type of phishing attack carried out through text messages.Attackers send SMS messages that impersonate banks, delivery services, government agencies, tech companies, or other trusted entities.

 The goal is to trick you into:

• Clicking a malicious link
• Revealing personal information (passwords, account numbers, one-time codes, Social Security numbers, etc.)
• Downloading malware
• Calling a fake number

Common examples

• “Your package is delayed. Click here to reschedule delivery.”
• “Suspicious activity detected on your bank account. Verify now: [link]”
• “You’ve won a prize / tax refund. Claim it here.”
• Messages claiming to be from Apple, Google, Amazon, or your phone carrier asking you to “confirm” something urgently

These texts often create a sense of urgency or fear so you’ll act before thinking.How it differs from regular phishing

• Phishing → email
• Smishing → text/SMS
• Vishing → voice calls

Because people tend to trust text messages more than emails and because smartphone screens make links harder to inspect carefully, smishing can be especially effective.How to protect yourself

• Be skeptical of any unexpected text that asks you to click a link or provide sensitive info.
• Never click links in unsolicited messages. Go directly to the official website or app instead.
• Check the sender’s number carefully (spoofed numbers are common).
• Enable two-factor authentication that doesn’t rely solely on SMS when possible.
• Report suspicious texts to your carrier (in the U.S., forward them to 7726) and delete them.
• Keep your phone’s OS and apps updated.

In short: smishing is phishing that arrives as a text message. Treat unexpected texts the same way you’d treat suspicious emails.