Ever received an SMS from a number you don’t know, claiming to be from your bank or network provider?
If you have, you may have been the victim of SMS spoofing.
SMS message spoofing is on the rise and is becoming a major concern for businesses, organizations, and consumers.
What is SMS Spoofing and How does it Work?
SMS message spoofing, also known as text spoofing is the practice of sending a text message with a fake sender ID.
This could be someone’s mobile phone number, email address, or even business name. It is a type of fraud that can be used to impersonate a legitimate business or person in order to gain access to sensitive information or commit financial fraud. It is also used to spread malicious links and phishing messages.
Though it is often abused, spoofing can be utilized for legitimate purposes. For instance, a business that wants to customize its communication through SMS marketing may change its sender ID from a phone number to its name during its bulk SMS campaigns.
The main point here is to change the number or name that appears on the recipient’s device. Scammers had used spoofed numbers that displayed well-known brands as the sender in order to deceive people into making dubious transactions and payments.
How Do Hackers Get Personal Information to Send Spoofed Messages
Hackers use a variety of techniques to obtain personal information to send spoofed SMS messages. These techniques include
1. Social engineering: This is when a hacker uses deception and manipulation to gain access to a person’s personal information. This can include creating false online profiles, sending phishing emails, and more.
2. Stealing information from online databases: Hackers can use malicious software (malware) to access databases that store personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and more.
3. Hacking into a person’s device: Hackers can use various methods to gain access to information stored on a person’s device, including using keyloggers or other malicious software.
4. Buying information on the dark web: Hackers can purchase personal information from criminals on the dark web, which is an underground area of the internet where criminals often trade illicit goods and services.
SMS Spoofing Examples
SMS spoofing examples include phishing attempts, malicious link sharing, and SMS-based scams.
For example, a scammer could spoof a text message from a trusted source such as a bank, asking you to provide your personal information. This could be used to gain access to your online banking accounts or other personal information.
Another example is a malicious link shared in an SMS that could lead to a website containing malware. They also include and are not limited to
Fake money transfers
Often, scammers will impersonate banks and text victims about fake transfers especially when it’s an online transaction.
Fake sender IDs
Scammers can pretend to represent popular businesses and con people into renewing their subscriptions by redirecting them to a site that has nothing to do with the company. This is referred to as phishing: they add a link to the message, the user clicks on it, and the scam is complete.
Harassment (stalking, family emergency, etc.)
Scammers can assume any identity they wish and they don’t always use it for financial reasons. Sometimes, it could be personal. Some use it to threaten people and start pranks.
How Can SMS Spoofing be Detected?
SMS spoofing can be detected by analyzing the data associated with the message. If the sender’s phone number, time of sending, and location are inconsistent with the data of the sender, then it is likely that the message has been spoofed.
Other methods of detecting spoofed messages include checking the message against a blacklist of known spoofed numbers and using encryption methods to ensure that spoofed messages can’t be sent.
Additionally, some companies provide software that can check the phone carrier and detect spoofed messages.
Most Effective Ways to Avoid SMS Spoofing
1. Use two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is a valuable tool to help protect your accounts from unwanted access. It requires you to use OTP SMS verification in order to access your account. Without the code, someone trying to break into your account won’t be able to access it.
2. Use SMS filtering services: Some companies offer SMS filtering services that use algorithms to detect suspicious messages and block any SMS spoofing attempts.
3. Use trusted applications for texting: Use applications from trusted sources, such as your phone’s operating system or app store, to send and receive text messages.
4. Avoid clicking on links from unknown numbers: If you receive a text message from an unknown number, it’s best to avoid clicking on any links or attachments included in the message.
5. Don’t respond to suspicious messages: If you receive a message that seems suspicious, don’t respond to it. Instead, delete the message immediately.
Final Word
SMS spoofing is a growing security threat, but with some simple steps, you can protect yourself and your data.
You can reach out to us at BSG to get more tips on protecting your data and that of your customers.
