SMS scams

Today I received a SMS message with following text:

CONGRATS-YOU-WON-700,000-GBP-
IN 2010-UK-TOYOTA WORLDWIDE-
INT’L-MMOBILE-DRAWS-WINNING
-#1,TO-CLAIM-YOUR PRIZE
CONTACT MR.BEN VIA
EMAIL:xxxxxxxx2010@hotmail.com

Its not something new, malware writers/ cyber criminals are attempting to fool mobile phone users with such bogus text messages. Mobile user are increasing day by day so is the SMS (Short Message Service).

The same what we see in mail called phising and when done using sms is termed smishing (SMS phishing). In Smishing an attacker targets mobile phone users with a phishing attack for the purpose of soliciting account passwords or sensitive information from the user initiated via mobile texting rather than email. The user is enticed to provide information or go to a compromised web site via a text message. Apart from the manner in which the attack is initiated, the attack proceeds as a standard Phishing attack.

Users are advised not fall into such bogus SMS, if someone is asking for your personal details do not give away.