Posted
on Wednesday, September 9, 2026
in
Identity Theft Prevention
A text lights up your phone screen from a number you don't recognize, saying, "Hey, are we still on for dinner tomorrow?" The message is clearly meant for someone else, but it seems ordinary and friendly. Since it feels rude not to respond, you consider sending a quick reply just to let the sender know they've got the wrong person.
But that seemingly harmless text is actually a trap set by cybercriminals! Scammers rely on your reply to mark you as an easy target. Your reply confirms to cybercriminals that your number is active, and then they'll sell it on the dark web to other scammers. Once your phone number appears on one of these dark web lists, you might see more scam texts or calls in the future!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this smishing, or text phishing, scam:
- If you receive a suspicious text, mark it as spam or junk and block the sender’s number. These actions also help your phone provider flag and block similar messages for other users.
- Avoid sharing your phone number publicly. The less accessible your number is, the harder it is for cybercriminals to find and target it in the first place.
- You may think replying to these kinds of texts is friendly, but it could mark you as a target for future scams. Always stop and think before you respond!
Article provided by:
KnowBe4.com