Receiving texts about winning a prize in a competition you never applied for? Or getting a message from a bank asking to click on a link to know about unusual activity on your account? Do not click just yet! You might fall victim to smishing. Smishing scams are a form of phishing that uses text messages to trick people into handing over personal or financial information. A blend of “SMS” and “phishing”, smishing involves fraudulent texts that are designed to look like they come from trusted sources such as banks, delivery services or government departments. These messages often create a false sense of urgency, warning of issues with your bank account, offering fake prizes or threatening legal action in an attempt to pressure recipients into clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive data. Such scams across the country, have been on a rise in recent times, with criminals exploiting the widespread use of smartphones and the tendency to trust text messages. Does this mean not clicking at any link? Here are some red flags to watch for when you get your next text.What to watch for

How to stay safe

By remaining alert, practising caution, and understanding the signs of smishing attempts, people can greatly lower their chances of being duped by such scams and better protect their personal and financial information.