Reply with “STOP” or “NO.” Even a basic response tells scammers that your number is active and that you're willing to respond to spam messages. If you reply, you'll start to receive more spam and scam texts and calls. Call a number listed in the text and disclose your personal information.
This is why it has become a primary target for hackers, and, yes, you can be hacked by replying to a text. Hackers have created a number of ways to attack your phone, and in this article, we are going to detail what these are, and how to fight back.
If you click a phishing link sent via a spam or scam text message and share your personal information or account credentials your information could be at risk. As an immediate step, always change the password associated with the account credentials compromised by a scam.
Don't respond to smishing messages, even to ask the sender to stop contacting you. Responding to smishing messages verifies that your phone number is active and that you are willing to open such messages, which may lead to an increase in the unsolicited text messages you receive.
PhishLabs warns that replying to a phishing email, even if you know it's a scam, can lead to further attacks. Most phishing campaigns are automated and replying to them puts you on a scammer's radar. PhishLabs stresses that these people are criminals, and that they can be vindictive or even dangerous.
Stop all contact with the scammer
Once you realise you are being scammed, do not continue the conversation. Hang up the phone. Don't reply to emails or letters scammers have sent you.
“A good general rule of thumb for a text from someone you don't know is to just ignore it or delete it,” says Stephen Cobb, senior security researcher at ESET, a company that makes antivirus and Internet security software for businesses and individuals worldwide.
The short answer is yes. When you keep sending repeated text messages, it can count as harassment. Keep in mind, though, that there are some exceptions.
Yes, it's definitely possible for someone to spy on your text messages and it's certainly something you should be aware of – this is a potential way for a hacker to gain a lot of private information about you – including accessing PIN codes sent by websites used to verify your identity (such as online banking).
Do not respond to the message, or get someone to speak to them on your behalf, it may only encourage the sender or make the situation worse. Take a screen shot of and retain any letter or message, if it is later deleted then you will still have a record of what was said.
Directly replying to a spam text message lets a spammer know that your number is genuine. After you reply, they can sell your phone number to other spammers who might bombard you with false promises of free gifts and product offers. Instead, it's best to block and report the number.
Some spam may be harmless, but spam links and unsolicited messages can contain malware that will do real damage to your device.
Phishing emails and smishing texts via SMS or WhatsApp are among the most common types of fraud. Your iPhone could be hacked if you reply, call the numbers, or click on any malicious links.
Do you risk getting hacked if responding to a message? Simply said, you don't. Answering the phone won't grant any person access to your personal computer. However, you could be a victim of “vishing,” the word equivalent to “phishing.” Its goal is to rush you to not be able to slow down and contemplate.
Spam Text Messages and Phishing
Scammers send fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information — things like your password, account number, or Social Security number. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts.
Mysterious apps, calls, or texts appear: A potential telltale sign that your phone has been hacked is the appearance of new apps that you didn't download, along with spikes in data usage that you can't account for. Likewise, if you see calls in your phone's call log that you didn't make, that's a warning as well.
Phones are popular targets for hackers, because they contain so much personal information all in one place. Smartphones hold everything from email and phone contacts to banking and website login credentials.
Two text messages may be harassment. One text message and one phone call may also be harassment. Harassment can include things your abuser has said or done. The incidents could have happened recently or they could have happened months apart.
Avoid dialogue
So, do not respond to any communication from the person stalking or harassing you. In this way, you also avoid escalating a potential conflict. If you do decide to respond to the person's attempts at contact, restrict yourself to telling the person that you do not want to be contacted anymore.
The best thing to do if you are being harassed is whatever will make you feel most safe and comfortable. You are in no way obligated to respond to a harasser or to report them. Though responding to or reporting a harasser can be empowering, it can also be exhausting and potentially unsafe.
Filter potential spammers
On Android, open the Messaging app and tap the three dots at the top right. In the drop-down menu, choose "Settings," and then tap "Spam Protection." Finally, turn on "Enable spam protection" by swiping the button to the right.
Just opening the phishing message without taking any further action will not compromise your data. However, hackers can still gather some data about you, even if all you did was open the email. They will use this data against you to create more targeted cyber attacks in the future.