The New York State Consumer Protection Department has recently issued a warning to alert the public to beware of a new type of “friendly greeting” phishing scam on the internet. These scams often appear in the form of text messages, with seemingly harmless greetings that can lead to serious personal information disclosure, ultimately falling prey to fraud and causing financial loss.
Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley of New York State stated that scammers are constantly trying to find new ways to gain trust in order to steal victims’ information, with internet phishing scams being one of the latest techniques used. For consumers, understanding these schemes and remaining cautious when receiving messages from unknown senders is crucial.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers are increasingly sending brief greetings as a way to initiate conversation, attempting to establish contact with victims and earn their trust. These messages may use the victim’s name or other information for personalization to make it appear as if it’s from a long-lost friend. Common greeting text messages include: “How are you?”, “Hello, is this (your name)?”, “How about going shopping together tomorrow?”
The State Consumer Protection Department advises that without verifying the legitimacy of the information, individuals should avoid engaging with the sender. When receiving such “friendly greetings” messages, refrain from replying and never click on any website links sent by the sender to prevent potential monitoring by ransomware and personal information exposure.
To minimize losses, consumers can forward phishing text messages to 7726 (SPAM) for reporting, use the “report spam text” option on their phones to delete the message, and also block the sender’s email address or phone number.
Stay vigilant and cautious while online, and always remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry in the face of potential scams.