What is spoofing, phishing, and smishing?

Cybercriminals are constantly developing new ways to trick people and businesses into giving up sensitive information. Three common tactics that often get confused are smishing, phishing, and spoofing. While they all share the goal of deceiving victims, the definition and methods differ. 

What is Spoofing: impersonating a trusted source

Spoofing is a technique that involves disguising communication to appear as if it’s coming from someone you trust, with the purpose of tricking you into taking harmful actions. It can occur across many channels, including websites, email, social media, phone calls, SMS and online ads. Two common examples are phishing and smishing, where spoofing is used to make fraudulent messages appear legitimate and more convincing. 

What is Phishing: fraudulent emails

Phishing is one of the most well-known forms of cyber fraud. It usually involves fraudulent emails that appear to come from a trusted source, such as a bank, online store, or government agency. Phishing usually involves the below elements: 

• The email urges the recipient to click on a link or download an attachment. 

• The link typically leads to a fake website that looks legitimate. 

• Victims are asked to enter sensitive details, like login credentials or credit card numbers. 

• Emails are often written with a sense of urgency, such as “Your account will be deleted if you don’t act now.” 

What is Smishing: phishing via SMS

Smishing (short for SMS phishing) is a variation of phishing that targets people through SMS messages rather than email. Typical signs of smishing include: 

• You receive a text that looks like it’s from your bank, a delivery company, or another trusted brand. 

• The message includes a link to a malicious site or a prompt to call a fraudulent phone number. 

• As with email phishing, the victim is usually asked to share sensitive information such as personal data and credit card numbers. 

Because SMS is a more personal and direct channel than email, smishing attacks can be especially convincing and can be perceived as more unpleasant. 

How to protect yourself from spoofing, phishing and smishing

By recognizing the signs and staying alert, you can greatly reduce the risk of falling victim. If something feels suspicious, take a step back and verify before clicking, downloading, or responding. Be cautious with unexpected requests, even if they appear to come from someone you know. If in doubt, contact the sender through an official channel. 

Prevent your company from smishing with LINK Mobility

There are actions your company can take to protect your customers from fraudulent activities such as smishing, phishing, and spoofing. A good starting point is to educate your customers on how your business communicates, and through which channels they can expect messages from your company. This makes it easier for them to spot suspicious activity. 

LINK Mobility provides solutions designed to secure mobile communication and protect brand reputation. With Sender ID Protection, businesses can prevent cybercriminals from spoofing their company name in SMS messages, ensuring that only verified and trusted messages reach the customer. 

Channels such as RCS (Rich Communication Services) and WhatsApp offer a secure and branded messaging solution with a verified sender profile. By combining these solutions, businesses can strengthen customer trust, minimize fraud risks, and create a safer communication environment.