Smithing Text: What are they, what you can do
Smithing Text is a scam that tricks recipients by sharing personal information such as bank details.
The problem has been resolved
Authorities are warning the public to be aware of texts that impersonate Amazon and offer refunds.
“The scammers are pretending to be Amazon again,” the Federal Trade Commission said in a recent press recommendation. “This time they’re sending you texts claiming there’s a problem with what you bought.”
The agent asked the scammer to click on the link for a refund, but said, “It’s a scam.”
What is Amazon Refund Scam?
According to the FTC Advisory issued on July 24th, the winners received “unexpected text that appears to be from Amazon” and claimed “the company has done a ‘regular quality inspection’ and that items recently purchased do not meet Amazon’s standards or have not been recalled.”
“The text says that you don’t need to return the item, as long as you click on the link and request the money,” the advisory says. Added that there is no refund, and instead the link is a “phishing scam” to steal money and personal information.
How to avoid fraud
The FTC recommends keeping the following in mind to avoid fraud:
- Do not click or respond to unexpected text links. If you believe your message is legal, please contact the company via a verified phone number, email or website, rather than information from the text.
- For more information, check your Amazon account on the app or website to see if there are any issues or recalls for what you ordered. Do not use text links.
- Transfer unnecessary text to 7726 (spam) or use the “Report Junk” option on your phone. Once you have reported it, delete the message.
The FTC also encourages the public to report fraud to agents at Reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Additionally, Amazon has information on its website about how to identify fake text messages.
What should I do if my information is compromised?
If you are incorrectly involved in a link and are afraid that your personal information has been compromised, the FTC recommends that you follow the steps below to ensure that you and your information:
- Warn banks and credit card companies and freeze all accounts immediately
- Change the password for potentially affected accounts
- Keep an eye on suspicious fees and ready to challenge them
- If you have given a social security number to a scammer, go to Identityththeft.gov to see what steps you can take, including how to monitor your credits.
- Report the scam to the FTC
Contributed by: Gretacross, USA Today
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact her at sshafiq @gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
