Today, smartphones hold far more than contacts and photos. Many people link their bank accounts, emails, and other confidential data to their phones, making them prime targets for scammers. A 2024 Statista survey found that 1 in 3 Nigerians encountered phishing emails or fraudulent investment offers in the past year.
Mobile phone scams aim to trick you into voluntarily infecting your device or handing over private information. In this article, we’ll share practical steps you can take to avoid mobile money scams and protect your digital life.
Common types of mobile money scams include:
- Voicemail scams (Vishing)
- Phishing via SMS (Smishing)
- One-touch strikes
Vishing
Vishing or "voice phishing" involves fraudulent calls received via a smartphone that entice you to perform some kind of action. In vishing, scammers will impersonate a genuine person or organization to gain your trust. They may pose as official representatives of a company or government service, convincing you to provide personal information or money.
These scams try to get you to perform a specific action during the call. They create a sense of urgency and hope you'll panic and react by doing what they want. That's why scammers will pressure you to pay something or share information during the call itself, instead of asking for action later (after ending the call).
SMS phishing
In SMS phishing or "smishing", a scammer tricks you into performing an action via text message.
Malware (harmful software) links can be sent via SMS in these messages, and if you open the links, your device may become infected with malware or spyware. Sometimes, the criminal will trick you differently by making you call a prepaid phone number, purchase a subscription, or forcibly hand over personal information.
One-touch strikes
One-touch strikes are calls made from an unknown number that ring only once, with the intention of getting you to return the call. This scam works because fraudsters usually bet that your curiosity will outweigh your critical judgment. In this scam, fees are charged when you make the call, and the profit goes to the scammer.
These calls are often from an international area code, which is part of the fee-collecting scheme. Sometimes, a voicemail is left to increase the chances of you taking some action. Therefore, be careful if you receive a call or voicemail from an unknown number, especially if you are not expecting a call.
How to identify mobile scams
Scams of any kind generally play on your emotions and strive to build trust. Some emotional motivations behind scams may include the following:
- Urgent situations or threats
If you feel fear or worry about possible consequences for not acting, stop and ask questions. Any reputable person will answer your questions and allow you to verify if the claims are true. Scammers will increase the pressure. Common themes that generate a sense of urgency include debts, tax breaks, or allegations of federal crimes.
- Empathy
If you feel guilty about resisting or questioning the legitimacy of a cause, this could be a warning sign. Scammers may pretend to be part of a charity or other social cause. They may try to deceive you by using a recent natural disaster or other current issue as part of the story.
- Incredible promises
Be careful when you get motivated to do what the scammer is asking in exchange for a reward, especially when you start to get excited or get your hopes up about an offer. Some examples might include the claim that you've won a prize or that you've won a grant from the government.
With each scam, you are prompted to comply with some request. Be aware of these common requests used in scams:
- Making a payment, especially in cash or sometimes with a gift certificate. These formats are difficult to get refunded for.
- Provide information such as bank account numbers or login details to sensitive accounts.
- Access a website using a link to log into an account or receive more information.
- Download an application or file, such as an antivirus application.
If you notice any of these signs during a phone call, be very careful. In most cases, you should refuse or delay taking action and investigate the claims of the caller.
How to avoid mobile phone scams
The best way to protect yourself is to be very conscious about how you use your phone. While you should be prepared to identify a scam, you should also improve the security of your private life.
Here are some useful tips:
1. Create highly secure passwords
Never reuse your passwords. For each password, it's ideal to use a random sequence of characters. Be sure to vary the type of characters; that is, use symbols, numbers, uppercase, and lowercase letters. If you use a password that combines short/memorable words, replace some of the letters with symbols or numbers.
2. Create long PINs
Instead of using a 4-digit PIN on your lock screen, set it to 6 digits whenever possible. 6-digit PINs have more possible combinations, making it harder to hack your phone or accounts. Never use dates or other personal information, as hackers will often try anything publicly available online about you before attempting to guess randomly. Also, avoid using basic numeric combinations like "0000" or "1234".
3. Store your unique passwords in a secure place
To remember all your custom passwords and PINs, you can write them in a notebook. For better safety in the case of losing the notebook, try password managers: they are software apps that safely store your passwords so they can't be read by hackers. You only need to remember one master password to access the secure area.
4. Use only official apps to access services
Using third-party apps to access services like banking and social media can allow scammers to gain unwanted access. Or even worse, providing your login to third parties could be a phishing scam to steal your credentials. Avoid apps that aggregate all your separate services into a single app instead of choosing the official app for each service.
5. Never click on unknown links
Mobile money scammers usually bet on your curiosity. When you receive a link through any digital channel, especially if it is accompanied by alarming messages (prizes, incredible offers, etc.), never click on it. Also, always check the sender of an email before opening the message, and do not download files from unknown senders, as they may contain malicious viruses that could compromise your phone’s security.
Conclusion
The internet is full of incredible opportunities, but also of pitfalls. That's why information will always be your greatest ally. The more you know about scams and how they work, the harder it will be to fall for one and the safer you'll be.
Remember: secure online shopping, strong passwords, and trustworthy platforms make all the difference in protecting yourself. Seek more knowledge and protect yourself against online scams.
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