Venice Police warn the public about Smishing

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

VPD

SMISHING ALERT! We’ve recently seen increased reports of smishing scams — fraudulent text messages containing malicious links designed to steal your personal information. These scams often target banking details, login credentials, and other sensitive data.

Here’s how to spot a smishing scam:
Generic greetings: “Dear customer” instead of your name, or no name
Urgency tactics: “Act now!” or “Limited time offer”
Spelling mistakes: Errors in company names or details, or names like look similar
Suspicious links: Links that don’t match official websites
Unknown sender: A number you don’t recognize

Common smishing scams to watch for:
Fake bank alert: “Your account has suspicious activity. Click here to verify: [link]”
Package delivery scam: “Your package is delayed. Update details here: [link]”
Prize notification: “Congrats! You’ve won a gift card! Claim now: [link]”

What to do if you receive a smishing text:
Do NOT click the link — It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Delete the message — Don’t engage with the sender.
Report the number — Your carrier may offer a way to report spam.
Verify directly — Contact the company through their official phone number, mobile application or website.

Stay alert and protect your personal info! Don’t become a victim.