Receiving fraudulent bank alert texts, commonly known as "smishing," is a prevalent issue in the United States. These deceptive messages often impersonate financial institutions to steal personal information. To protect yourself, consider installing the following apps:
1. Robokiller
Robokiller is a leading app that blocks 99% of robocalls and offers AI-powered "Answer Bots" to waste scammers' time. It also provides spam text blocking features. The app is available for $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. (parade.com)
2. Trend Micro ScamCheck
Trend Micro ScamCheck offers comprehensive protection against scams, including call blocking, SMS filtering, and fake video call detection. It utilizes AI to detect subtle signs of scams that conventional methods might miss. The app is available for free with in-app purchases. (apps.apple.com)
3. T-Mobile Scam Shield
T-Mobile Scam Shield provides network-level protection by automatically blocking scam calls and texts. It also offers features like Scam ID, Scam Block, and Caller ID. The service is available to T-Mobile customers at no extra cost. (t-mobile.com)
4. Hiya
Hiya is a call-blocking app that identifies and blocks spam calls and texts. It offers real-time caller ID and spam call auto-block features. The app is free with a premium version available for $2.99 per month. (verified.org)
5. RealCall
RealCall is an AI-powered app that detects and blocks spam calls and texts. It features a reverse phone lookup service and customized answer bots for unwanted calls. The app is available for free with in-app purchases. (en.wikipedia.org)
Additional Tips to Protect Yourself
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Enable Built-In Spam Filters: Both iPhone and Android devices have built-in features to filter spam messages. For iPhone, go to Settings → Messages and turn on "Filter Unknown Senders." For Android, open the Messages app, select the unwanted message, and tap "Add to blocklist." (mcafee.com)
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Report Suspicious Messages: Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) to help carriers identify and block the sender. (mcafee.com)
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Verify Through Official Channels: If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from your bank, do not click any links or call any numbers provided. Instead, contact your bank directly using the official contact information from their website. (bankunited.com)
By installing these apps and following these practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fake bank alert texts and other forms of smishing.
