As more and more people become reliant on their smartphones for communication and accessing the internet, it’s no surprise that scammers have started to use SMS as a means of tricking people into giving away their personal information or money. One type of SMS scam that has become increasingly common is the affiliate SMS scam, where scammers send texts promoting products or services, often with links to websites that appear legitimate but are actually designed to steal your personal or financial information. In this post, we’ll go over what affiliate SMS scams are, how to recognize them, and what you can do to protect yourself from falling victim to one.

What is an affiliate SMS scam?

An affiliate SMS scam is a type of scam in which scammers send text messages promoting products or services, with the goal of tricking people into clicking on links or providing personal or financial information. The texts often claim to offer exclusive deals or discounts on popular products, or they may promise free gifts or other incentives. The links in the texts usually lead to fake websites that are designed to look legitimate, but are actually designed to steal your personal or financial information.

One common tactic used by affiliate SMS scammers is to use the names of well-known brands or companies to make their texts seem more legitimate. For example, they may use the name of a popular online retailer to promote a fake sale, or they may use the name of a reputable bank to ask for personal information for “security purposes.”

How to recognize an affiliate SMS scam

Here are some red flags to look out for that may indicate that you’re dealing with an affiliate SMS scam:

• You didn’t sign up to receive texts from the sender: If you haven’t signed up to receive texts from a particular company or brand, be wary of any texts you receive from them. It’s possible that the sender is using the name of a legitimate company to try to trick you into thinking the text is legitimate.
• The text contains typos or grammatical errors: Scammers often rush to send out as many texts as possible, so they may not take the time to proofread their messages. If the text you receive contains typos or grammatical errors, it could be a sign that it’s a scam.
• The text asks for personal or financial information: Reputable companies and brands generally don’t ask for personal or financial information via text message. If the text you receive asks for this type of information, be very wary.
• The text contains a link to a website: Be especially careful if the text you receive contains a link to a website. If you click on the link, you may be taken to a fake website that is designed to steal your personal or financial information.
• The text offers an “exclusive” or “limited time” deal: Scammers often use the promise of an exclusive or limited-time deal to try to trick people into acting quickly. Be wary of any texts that make these types of claims.

What to do if you receive an affiliate SMS scam

If you receive a text that you suspect is an affiliate SMS scam, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Don’t click on any links in the text: If the text contains a link, don’t click on it. Doing so could take you to a fake website that is designed to steal your personal or financial information.
• Don’t provide any personal or financial information: As mentioned earlier, reputable companies and brands generally don’t ask for personal or financial information via text message. If the text you receive asks for this type of information, don’t provide it.