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They arrive with names like Mia, Diana, and Alyssa.
Usually, they claim we’ve met before.
My Smishing examples
I meet a lot of people in my line of work but rarely hand out my phone number.
In fact, I don’t even carry business cards.
I tell people toGoogleme, and they will quickly figure out how to contact me.
My Smishing examples
That was Diana’s approach, who texted me, “My name is Diana.
What’s your name?”
With Diana, I replied, “You texted me.
If you don’t know, we got nothing to talk about.”
Have we had business conversations before?"
Still in grumpy mode, I replied " No idea.
Don’t know who you are."
To Diana, I replied, “Nope, does not ring a bell.”
Diana, though, was relentless: “What’s your name?
Maybe you’re able to share a photo with me.”
When I didn’t respond, Diana sent a “Hello.”
Days later, I responded with a photo sent to me by a different smisher.
Diana took a while but eventually said I looked Chinese and called me a “beautiful lady.”
Eventually, she asked me in Chinese to add her as a WeChat contact.
Another smisher who I strung along also eventually lapsed into Chinese while asking to see a picture of me.
A 2022 FTC study found that text-basedSPAM text attacks account for $330M in losses.
Naturally, that number is likely far larger now.
They play on people’s loneliness, faulty memories, politeness, and need for connection.
It’s almost a text form of catfishing.
Still, they seem less effective at blocking these types of smishing activities.
Which means it’s up to you.
When Alyssa contacted me, the first message was a playful “Guess who I am.”
“I’m Alyssa, have you forgotten me?”
This gave me pause.
I know an Alyssa whom I haven’t chatted with in ages.
Could it be her?
Have you forgotten me?"
One of them asked me where I lived as if I was going to provide my home address.
That will instantly end the conversation, or at least that conversation.
Unfortunately, you’ll probably get other such smishing attempts.
