Know what ‘smishing’ is? Whether you’re familiar with the word or not, you’ve had the displeasure of being on the receiving end of it.

Out of the blue, a text message from the United States Postal Service (USPS) notifies you that a delivery requires action. USPS provides a link to track, and you click or tap it to visit a webpage and provide personal or financial information to take care of the matter. Everything is set, and you go about your day.

Except there’s one major problem: USPS didn’t text you, a scammer did — and now your information is in dangerous hands.

USPS warns of smishing scams year-round (and especially during the holidays) since people use text messaging as a safe, trusted form of communication between family, friends, colleagues, and important service providers. So, while it may seem hard to imagine falling for smishing, many people do each year due to the frequency and level of sophistication of this type of phishing attack.

And here’s an eye-opening statistic: Americans received a record-setting 19.2 billion spam text messages in February 2025, according to Robokiller.

Consider the devastating consequences of the tiniest fraction of those spam text messages in a month stealing information. It’s why, as an individual or a business, everyone needs to protect themselves against SMS phishing.

Let’s go through what smishing is, how to recognize this type of phishing attack, and much more.

What is Smishing in Cybersecurity? Meaning, Definition, and Risks

Smishing, a portmanteau of “SMS” (for Short Message Service) and “phishing,” is a type of social engineering attack that uses deceptive text messages to trick recipients into revealing personal or financial information, downloading malware, or visiting malicious websites.

Attackers use smishing to exploit trust and urgency through text messaging, impersonating legitimate organizations or individuals to manipulate victims into taking immediate action.

Here are the risks typically associated with smishing:

• Data Breaches: Exposure of sensitive personal, financial, or corporate data.
• Financial Loss: Unauthorized transactions, identity theft, and ransomware payments.
• Reputation Damage: Loss of customer trust and negative publicity.
• Compliance Violations: Potential fines and penalties for failing to protect sensitive data.
• Malware Infections: Compromised devices throughout the network, creating further damage.

One thing is clear: Like all types of phishing attacks, smishing needs to be taken seriously and included as an integral part of security awareness training.

Smishing Examples: Real-World SMS Phishing Scenarios

Attackers employ a variety of tactics to pull off SMS phishing attacks, from impersonating colleagues to falsely claiming a bank account has been suspended. In every scenario for smishing, the attacker is trying to trick the target into believing the text message and completing the desired action.

Below are common smishing examples you may encounter (if you haven’t already).

Urgent request from employer

• Attacker’s Goal: Trick the employee into spending personal or company money on gift cards and revealing the codes.‍
• Red Flags: Unusual request, pressure for immediate action, and bypassing company procedures.

Fake package delivery notifcation

• Attacker’s Goal: Steal login credentials or install malware on the device.‍
• Red Flags: Unexpected message, generic greeting, suspicious link, and not actively using the delivery service.

Bank account alert

• Attacker’s Goal: Steal bank account login details, gaining access to personal information and financial assets.‍
• Red Flags: Urgent request, threat of account suspension, and a link to a website that does not belong to the bank.

Tech support notification

• Attacker’s Goal: To gain remote access to the victim’s device, steal data, or charge for nonexistent services.‍
• Red Flags: Unsolicited message, alarming claim, and pressure to call a specific number

Fake contest winnings

• Attacker’s Goal: Collect personal information or install malware.‍
• Red Flags: Generic greeting and unsolicited offer that seems too good to be true.

Why SMS Phishing (Smishing) is Effective & Dangerous

Attackers find SMS phishing attacks effective because they’re a convergence of human behavior, technology, and strategy, all conflicting with each other.

Take a look at the factors contributing to smishing’s effectiveness and the significant risks it poses:

• High Open & Engagement Rates: Text messages have significantly higher open rates than emails, making smishing attacks far more likely to be seen and acted upon.
• Trust: People generally trust text messages, especially if they’re from a known contact or organization.
• Sense of Urgency: Smishing messages pressure recipients to act quickly without thinking critically.
• Scalability: Attackers easily deploy hundreds or thousands of SMS phishing attacks at once, increasing their chance of success at a minimal cost.
• Lack of Security Awareness: Many individuals aren’t adequately trained at work to recognize smishing attacks, so they might not be aware of the red flags or potential consequences.
• Generative AI: Attackers use generative AI tools to craft convincing, personalized smishing messages. It leads to realistic-sounding communication, making it harder to distinguish between a legitimate message and a scam.

Smishing separates itself from other types of phishing attacks because of the communication channel used. Everyone with a phone communicates via text message on a daily basis, so attackers aim to integrate into that pattern with SMS phishing attacks.

How to Recognize a Smishing Attack: Red Flags & Warning Signs

Spotting a smishing text message isn’t always easy, especially as attackers leverage generative AI to make their scams appear more legitimate.

However, developing strong awareness and a habit of deep evaluation is your best defense. Being vigilant and knowing what to look for can prevent data compromise and financial loss in the event of a smishing attack.

Here are the red flags and warning signs of a smishing attack.

Unexpected messages from unknown numbers

Be highly skeptical of text messages that arrive from phone numbers you don’t recognize. While legitimate businesses sometimes use different numbers, an unexpected message, especially one containing a link or a request, should always be treated with caution.

Requests for personal information

Legitimate organizations, such as banks and government agencies, will almost never request personal information like passwords or account numbers via text message.

Sense of urgency or threats

Smishing attacks usually try to create panic or urgency to pressure a target into acting quickly, so be wary of messages that threaten account suspension, late fees, legal action, or other negative consequences if you don’t respond immediately.

Legitimate companies often provide ample notice and communicate through multiple channels, including physical mail.

Poor grammar or spelling

While generative AI is making this less reliable, consistently poor grammar, spelling errors, or awkward phrasing sometimes indicate a smishing attempt.

Many attackers aren’t native English speakers, so subtle errors can slip through. However, don’t solely rely on this because AI models are making phishing attacks better at producing flawless text.

Suspicious links

Remain extremely cautious about clicking on any links in text messages, particularly those shortened using services like Bitly or TinyURL. Shortened links obscure the true destination of the website, making it easier for attackers to direct you to a malicious destination.

Offers that seem too good to be true

If you receive a text message claiming you’ve won a prize, offering a large discount, or promising something for free that seems unbelievably good, it’s almost certainly a scam.

Be skeptical of unsolicited offers, especially those requiring you to provide personal information to claim them.

Inconsistencies with known communications

If a text message deviates significantly from a company or individual’s usual communication style or branding, it could be a red flag.

For example, if your bank normally addresses you by your full name but a random text message uses a generic greeting, be suspicious.

Requests to bypass normal company procedures

Be wary of any text message that instructs you to bypass established company policies or procedures, especially those related to financial transactions, data security, or access control.

How to Protect Yourself & Your Business from Smishing

Protecting against SMS phishing attacks requires an approach combining individual vigilance with organizational security measures.

Tips for individuals

Here are tips to protect yourself from smishing:

• Don’t Click Suspicious Links: Never click on a link from an unknown sender.
• Verify Independently: If you receive a suspicious text message supposedly from a company, contact them directly through their official website or phone number — not the one in the message.
• Don’t Respond: Don’t reply to a suspicious text message, even to say “stop” or “unsubscribe.”
• Report Smishing: In the U.S., forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (SPAM), which forwards them to wireless carriers for blocking; the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also hosts a website dedicated to reporting fraud.
• Don’t Buy Into Urgency: Take your time and think critically before acting on any text message request.
• Keep Software Updated: Ensure your phone’s operating system and apps are updated to the latest version, which includes patches for security vulnerabilities.

Messaging apps on a phone typically provide some degree of spam filtering, but it’s still important that individuals remain vigilant when receiving text messages — especially from an unknown sender.

Tips for businesses

Here are tips to protect your business from smishing:

• Implement Security Awareness Training: Train employees to recognize and respond to smishing attacks, including those crafted with generative AI.
• Conduct Phishing Simulations: Include smishing simulations in your training program to give employees real-world scenarios that put their knowledge to the test.
• Establish Clear Protocols: Define clear procedures for employees to follow when they receive suspicious text messages.
• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use MFA whenever possible to add an extra layer of security to accounts.
• Mobile Device Management (MDM): If feasible for the organization, use MDM solutions to manage and secure employee mobile devices.
• Monitor for Smishing Attacks: Use security tools to monitor for SMS phishing targeting your organization and employees.

Organizations are limited in what they can do from a technology standpoint when it comes to smishing, so it’s critical to utilize security awareness training and equip employees with the knowledge they need.

Adaptive Security: Your Partner in Smishing Prevention

With the rise of generative AI, attackers’ smishing attempts appear even more convincing, highlighting the urgent need for a modern approach to security awareness training. And while regulatory efforts and technology solutions play a role in helping, the most effective defense against SMS phishing attacks is a well-trained and vigilant workforce.

Adaptive Security prevents generative AI-powered social engineering attacks, including smishing, with a next-generation platform for security awareness training and phishing simulations. Over 100 leading global brands track their risk, run multi-channel deepfake simulations, and engage employees with security awareness training they actually enjoy through Adaptive’s platform today.

‍Don’t wait for an SMS phishing attack and costly data breach — get a demo with Adaptive to discover how our platform protects your business from growing threats.