The Smishing Triad network sends up to 100,000 scam texts per day globally. One of those messages went to Grant Smith, who infiltrated their systems and exposed them to US authorities.
It doesn’t help that a lot of businesses do the shit that builds the bad habits.
My bank has called me to verify a purchase (as in I called the number on my card and got redirected back to the same person). A variety of businesses routinely send direct action links that immediately request login information. Many online businesses require your phone number for a purchase and immediately opt you in to text messaging without consent. I have received plenty of nuisance texts/emails from places I made an online order with, then made an in-store purchase with the same card.
All that shit teaches people that that shit is normal and legitimate. Disgusting, insecure, privacy invading bullshit is a routine occurrence.
It can happen to anyone, even you! All it takes is for you to be a bit tired, stressed, or have a bit of an emotional response and it can quickly spiral.
Hell, even the guy who came up with the term “phishing” clicked a phishing link at the height of his cyber security career and just barely caught himself before providing info.
These people aren’t idiots, they are victims who were tricked.
It boggles my mind that people fall for these scams, and do so in such large numbers.
So much stupidity and/or so little tech literacy. Ow.
And it’s depressing that there are so many sleazy people out there doing all kinds of bad things in general. Shame.
It doesn’t help that a lot of businesses do the shit that builds the bad habits.
My bank has called me to verify a purchase (as in I called the number on my card and got redirected back to the same person). A variety of businesses routinely send direct action links that immediately request login information. Many online businesses require your phone number for a purchase and immediately opt you in to text messaging without consent. I have received plenty of nuisance texts/emails from places I made an online order with, then made an in-store purchase with the same card.
All that shit teaches people that that shit is normal and legitimate. Disgusting, insecure, privacy invading bullshit is a routine occurrence.
It can happen to anyone, even you! All it takes is for you to be a bit tired, stressed, or have a bit of an emotional response and it can quickly spiral.
Hell, even the guy who came up with the term “phishing” clicked a phishing link at the height of his cyber security career and just barely caught himself before providing info.
These people aren’t idiots, they are victims who were tricked.
Yes, you are right of course. It’s a sad state of affairs.
I’ve fallen for it too and I’m technically a security researcher depending on how you read my job description