Scammers have so many smart and savvy methods for stealing your data, and the moment we’re onto one of their tactics, it seems like they’re onto the next one. With that said, some methods carry-over from one scheme to the next because they are tried-and-true. In other words: they work.
If you receive texts or emails with either of the following (you’re more likely to receive them with both at the same time) be aware that the message could be bait the scammer is hoping you catch. The last thing you need in your life is to deal with your phone getting hacked and your private information and data leaking. These are the red flag text messages scammers rely on to steal your data.
1. An Urgent Tone
A common scam right now is delivery text and email scams in which you receive an urgent message letting you know that your package can’t be delivered to you because the sender (UPS, the United States Post Office, etc) lacks crucial information from you. This scam is like a lot of others that involve an urgent tone and a cautionary message: if you don’t click now and resolve this issue, your package could be lost forever.
Remember: few legit businesses will write you with such urgency or make threats. Your best bet is to download delivery apps and check your packages at the source.

2. Links
Hand-in-hand with urgent tones you’ll see links in emails and texts that the scammer will ask you to click on. Sometimes those links lead to your phone being infected with malware or spyware; other times, the link leads to a legit-looking website that requests your personal information. These are all ways to steal your data. Don’t click on links. Delete the email or text and report it.


