Phishing Scheme Alert: Continent Card Fraud
- A new cybercrime scheme involving mass SMS phishing is targeting individuals, attempting to trick them into revealing sensitive financial facts.
- Criminals are employing a widespread SMS (text message) phishing campaign, often referred to as "smishing." These messages are sent to a large number of recipients, with the sender's...
- The scheme frequently enough involves inducing victims to share data under duress or through manipulative tactics.Once obtained, this data is then used for abusive purposes, including unauthorized charges...
Cybercrime Alert: SMS Phishing Scheme Targets Financial Data
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A new cybercrime scheme involving mass SMS phishing is targeting individuals, attempting to trick them into revealing sensitive financial facts. authorities urge immediate caution and proactive steps to protect against this threat.
Last updated: September 11, 2025, 13:40:13 UTC
Understanding the SMS Phishing Scheme
Criminals are employing a widespread SMS (text message) phishing campaign, often referred to as “smishing.” These messages are sent to a large number of recipients, with the sender’s phone number masked to conceal their identity. The legitimate owner of the masked number is typically unaware their number is being used in this fraudulent activity. The goal is to deceive victims into providing personal and financial data, particularly credit card information.
The scheme frequently enough involves inducing victims to share data under duress or through manipulative tactics.Once obtained, this data is then used for abusive purposes, including unauthorized charges and identity theft.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious SMS
Cybercrime authorities strongly advise individuals to ignore and delete any unsolicited SMS messages requesting personal or financial information. Do not respond to these messages under any circumstances. Responding, even to indicate you are not the intended recipient, can confirm to the sender that your number is active and increase your risk of future targeting.
if you believe you have inadvertently shared your credit card details or other sensitive information, promptly contact your issuing bank to cancel your card and report the incident. Prompt action is crucial to minimize potential financial losses.
Protecting Yourself from Smishing
Here are several steps you can take to protect yourself from SMS phishing scams:
- Be skeptical of unsolicited messages: Legitimate organizations rarely request sensitive information via text message.
- Never click on links in suspicious texts: These links may lead to fake websites designed to steal your information.
- Do not respond to requests for personal information: This includes your credit card number, bank account details, Social security number, or passwords.
- Report suspicious messages: Forward the message to your mobile carrier’s spam reporting number (typically 7726).
- Enable spam filtering: Most smartphones offer built-in spam filtering features.
- Consider using a call/message blocking app: Several apps can help identify and block potential scam calls and texts.
Smishing Trends and Statistics
While specific data for 2025 is still emerging, reports from 2024 indicate a meaningful rise in smishing attacks. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reports of smishing scams increased by over 160% between 2022 and 2023. The FTC received over 138,000 reports of smishing scams in 2023, resulting in reported losses of over $18.5 million. The FTC provides detailed information on identifying and avoiding smishing scams.
| Year | Reports to FTC | Reported Losses |
|---|