newjerseynewsroom.com

BY CAROL ABAYA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Smishing (short message service) is the latest tool allowing scammers to steal information from unsuspecting cell phone users, according to Annmarie Howley, director of the Monmouth County Department of Consumer Affairs.

Howley points out that thousands are using the latest technology to target and take advantage of consumers. Swishing takes information from cellular phones. It look legitimate, but tricks victims into submitting their information which is hen used to steal identities.

The criminal, according to Howley, sets up an automated dialing system to text or call people in particular area codes or regions. They will sometimes use customer phone numbers that were stolen from banks or credit unions.

After collecting such information, the criminal can drain bank accounts,charge items with the credit card numbers or set up more accounts that only the criminal can access.

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Howley says that by answering the text messages or calling the number, malware and viruses are downloaded to the smart phone. The malware gathers personal information from the cell phone, such as passwords and contact information.

“Because consumer feel safe using their cell phones. they are at an even greater risk of falling prey to smishing. Most of the messages cause a sense of alarm, using trigger words such as problems with bank or credit cars that people are more likely to click or call without thinking it is a scam. Call your bank or credit card and do not respond to telephone or text messages.

Because the smishing scam artists work in foreign countries, it is impossible to track them down."