How to Identify a Text Scam

POSTED OCTOBER 27, 2022

As a business, a text message is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get in touch with a mass group of your clients simultaneously. It is also one of the most personable ways to get in touch with your clients. However, it is very easy to be mistaken for a text message scam by your clients, so they will be more likely to simply delete your message without thoroughly investigating.

Several surefire ways will make it easier to identify fake text messages that may be out to scam you. Let’s look at a few examples:

• Unknown Phone Numbers- First, you should be able to trace any unknown phone number back to a legitimate company. If you cannot do so, the message has come from an unknown sender. This example of phishing or smishing should be reported to your service provider. It is a spam text message and should be deleted immediately.

• Government Text Messages- As of today, no United States government agencies conduct transactions through text messages or any messaging app. They will not share account information, financial information, social security numbers, or any other personal details through messages, either. This is a definite red flag if you get a text claiming it is from the government. Delete the message immediately, and do not reply.

• Issues with Relatives- Some scammers will try to get sensitive information from you by claiming that a family member is in trouble and needs your help. These scammers usually claim to be your actual family member, claiming to be texting from a prepaid mobile device. They may say they need monetary help and will ask you for your bank account information. Immediately delete any messages you think may be fraudulent.

• Fake Refunds- You may receive an SMS that claims that you are due a refund for a recent charge that you might have made from your bank account or credit card. These phishing scams are popular because people are always looking for extra money. Their excitement may overwhelm their common sense, and they may respond on the off-chance that it is not a scam.

• Raffle Prizes- Another type of suspicious text is one that claims that you have won a special prize. This prize may be a popular good or a gift card. Usually, this unwanted text will give you several steps to complete to claim your prize. Alternatively, you should never click on a suspicious link from an unknown sender. This could cause installing harmful malware on your device.

You might inform your service provider of any suspicious activity. This immediate action will prevent these scammers from moving on to the next unsuspecting person on their list. There are also options to block messages from unknown senders on both iPhones and Android.

Sending Legitimate Messages through Your Business

So, if you run a legitimate business and would like to send your clients text messages, how can you guarantee your clients will not immediately delete your messages? How can you guarantee your messages will not appear as phishing scams? Luckily, there are several steps that you can take to make your text messages appear legitimate to everyone on your business’s contact list.

First, make sure that you specify who your message is from. If the person receiving the text is already a client, it will reassure them to recognize your name or the name of your business. You will also want to keep your message clear and concise, with a legitimate reason stated for sending the message. Do not send messages to your clients for no reason. This may annoy your clients and prod them to block your messages.

You might also consider getting a short code number for your business. This 4-9 digit phone number will allow you to send reminders, SMS messages, and shipping updates. If you need two-way conversation capability, you will likely want to get a long code. This is a 10-digit number that will allow you to text back and forth with any client you wish to.

slyText Can Help Your Business with Texting

slyText is an online text messaging service that functions completely online. This service will help you communicate with your clients, as long as they have a smart cell phone. One of the best features of slyText is that it will allow you to text back and forth with clients, as opposed to a simple one-way messaging system. Several other features are offered by slyText that will make your business communications even easier.

One such feature is the easy customer opt-out, which gives your customers the option to opt out of receiving your possibly unsolicited text messages. Your clients will appreciate this feature, making their lives easier. slyText also makes it easy to personalize your messages using photos, videos, or audio. This will help your customers feel a little more at ease and a little more sure that the message came from you.

Another feature you will enjoy for your business is the track success feature. The track success feature allows you to view real-time reports on your campaigns. You can adjust future campaigns to reflect the information you gathered from these reports. You can also schedule appointment reminders to be sent out to your customers. This will ensure that you and your clients are updated on the latest schedule changes.

Conclusion: How to Identify a Text Scam

In conclusion, text scams are a genuine problem that you must be on the lookout for. There are plenty of scammers out there that are looking to exploit any personal information they can get their hands on. It is important to be familiar with all the warning signs of a smishing scam. Luckily, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your business texts appear more legitimate to your customers. Make sure to include your name and your business name, as well as ensure that there is a legitimate reason for your text.

slyText is here to help you with all of your web texting needs. With slyText, your business will be up and running even better than before!

How to Identify a Text Scam

POSTED OCTOBER 27, 2022

Sending Legitimate Messages through Your Business

slyText Can Help Your Business with Texting

Conclusion: How to Identify a Text Scam

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