What is smishing and how do you spot a scam text message?

Smishing is a scam text message designed to trick you into clicking a link or giving away your password and personal information. Criminals pretend to be your bank, delivery company, or a service you use, and the fake link steals your data. Real companies never ask for passwords or personal details by text. If you're unsure, call the company's official phone number.

Smishing combines SMS text messages with phishing. It's a scam pretending to be someone trustworthy. A scammer sends a text that looks like it's from your bank, Amazon, Apple, or your mobile provider, and the message includes a link. When you click it, you land on a fake website that copies the real one. You enter your password or card details, and the scammer gets them.