Yes, some scammers are posing as people who have texted the wrong number. Experts recommend you don't respond to texts from strangers — if nothing else, a scammer will know your phone number is active when you reply.
In a word: no. You can't get hacked by simply answering your phone. However, you can fall prey to “vishing”—which is the verbal equivalent of “phishing.” Here, again, the intent is to create a sense of urgency, so you do not have time to sit back and think.
Like phishing emails, smishing texts are social-engineering scams that aim to manipulate people into turning over sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and account passwords or providing access to a business's computer system.
Ignore and delete all suspicious text messages, emails, or calendar invites. 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.
These messages are spam texts, also known as robotexts. The fact is, most spam texts don't come from another mobile phone. They usually come from a scammer who is sitting behind a computer sending a massive amount of texts from an email address or other messaging account.
A: Yes, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in text messages to hack your phone and gain unauthorized access to your personal information or control your device.
With any spam text messages, you should never reply to them. Doing so confirms to the spammers that you're a real person and a potential target. Sometimes spammers try to trick you into responding by saying, "text STOP to be removed from our mailing list" or something similar.
Anyone, not just hackers, can use spyware
One popular app, mSpy, monitors text messages, calls, and social media interactions. The app can be installed remotely on an iPhone if you have the proper iCloud credentials. For Android phones, someone will need physical access to install it.
Only answer calls from known numbers. If you answer a call from an unknown number, hang up immediately. If you answer the phone and the caller or recording asks you to select a button or number to stop receiving the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
If you are getting spam texts, it's more than likely that whoever is sending you a spam text message is trying to get access to your personal information—bank accounts, passwords, social security number, online IDs and more. Spam texts don't come from another phone.
That's because they're hard to trace. Usually, these numbers are just connected to an email address. And if the email address is anonymous, you won't be able to even trace them with that. That's why it's important to contact the app developer, your carrier, or law enforcement if you get these messages.
What is SIM card hijacking? The most common form of SIM card attack is a SIM swap. Hackers use this technique to persuade your phone provider to move your phone number over to their device. This causes any phone calls and texts to go to their mobile phone rather than yours.
Use the code *#21# to see if hackers track your phone with malicious intent. You can also use this code to verify if your calls, messages, or other data are being diverted. It also shows your diverted information's status and the number to which the information is transferred.
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.
The Rule of Response: Always respond, unless you don't want to be friends with that person anymore. Yes, we are all busy people, and I know it's sometimes hard to respond when you know it will probably end up as a full on text conversation, but you should always respond.
Hackers are always eager to infect your device with malware and trojans. By installing keyloggers on your phone, a cybercriminal can monitor your activity and secretly view your login data for websites and apps.
Don't “click” open links in unsolicited text messages. Clicking the link may infect your mobile device with a virus or malware designed to steal the personal or financial information stored on the device. Don't call a telephone number listed in an unsolicited text message.
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to check if the camera or the microphone of your Android device is being accessed. However, there is a workaround for it. Android users can download an app called Access Dots from the Google Play Store which will notify users the same way iPhone does.
Hopefully this has helped to reassure you that it is not possible for someone to hack your phone with just your number. However, phone hacking is a real threat and there are many other ways for hackers to gain access.
Smartphone spyware apps that allow people to spy on each other are not only hard to notice and detect, they also will easily leak the sensitive personal information they collect, says a team of computer scientists from New York and San Diego.
Is blocking my phone number to send anonymous texts illegal? The simple answer is no. It's perfectly legal to hide your phone number for personal security and safety reasons. If you're uncomfortable revealing your phone number when sending a text, it's well within your rights to hide it.