SMS Spoofing: In the digital era, where online banking and UPI have made life easier, cyber criminals have also found new ways. One of these dangerous methods is SMS Spoofing. Many people believe such messages without understanding and become victims of fraud within a few minutes.
What is SMS Spoofing?
SMS Spoofing is a technique in which fraudsters send fake messages in the name of a trusted institution like a bank, government department or a big company. The message looks absolutely genuine because the name of the sender also appears in it, as is usually the case in official messages.
For example, you may get a message from the bank that your account is about to be closed or update KYC. The link given in the message looks genuine but it takes you to a fake website.
How does this scam work?
First of all, cyber criminals create a fake website that looks like the website of a real bank or company. Then they send messages to people with the help of SMS Spoofing tool.
When a person clicks on that link and fills his personal information like bank details, OTP or card number, then this information directly reaches the fraudsters. After this they withdraw money from the account or empty the digital wallet.
How do people become victims?
Often people get scared by warnings like taking immediate action written in messages. Due to haste and fear, they click on the link without checking its authenticity. Apart from this, sometimes the messages are prepared in such a professional manner that it becomes difficult to differentiate between real and fake.
How to protect?
Be careful before clicking on any unknown link. Banks or government organizations never ask for your sensitive information through SMS. If you receive any suspicious message then contact directly the official website or customer care number of the concerned company. Do not share OTP or password with anyone, no matter how trustworthy the message seems.
