Santa isn’t the only one who should check to see who’s naughty or nice during the holiday season!  A popular scam known as smishing (a combination of “phishing” and the term SMS (Short Message Service) tries to highjack personal information via text messages disguised as free gift card offers from leading retail stores. The texts encourage users to click on a link to claim their “special prize”, a gift card in varying amounts. After clicking on a fake URL, the “winners” are instructed to fill out a form with credit card numbers and other personal data so that a “grift” card can be applied directly to the accounts. In reality, the information is sent to hackers who use the funds to do THEIR shopping and open other accounts for their personal use. Ho, Ho, Ho the scammers win and unsuspecting consumers lose their money.

Here are three quick tips to avoid the smishing scam:

• Do NOT clink on the link. If you believe you have won a gift card, call the store and ask them. A few minutes of your time can prevent additional holiday hassles.
• Do NOT reply to any text messages from unknown sources, especially if they ask for personal information. Hit delete and avoid the deceit!
• Forward any spam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and your cell phone carrier will start an investigation. Major companies are proactive when it comes to fighting fraud and they can set up blocks to prevent more calls.

Happy Scam-Free Holidays to everyone and a Very Happy New Year!