A few tips:

1. Know that it is easy for criminals to send an SMS message posing as bank or business.

2. Never respond to an SMS message by "texting" your personal information back to them. Call the company instead.

3. Do not call the phone number provided in the message. Use a trusted source to find a customer service phone number and use that alternate one to inquire about the message. If you happen to have an account with the bank or the credit card company that supposedly sent the message, use the number printed on the back of your credit or debit card and return the call using that phone number.

4. Contact your financial institutions and find out what their policies are regarding sending you SMS messages, find out if you can opt out of it

 

Officer Mike Wieczorek

Richardson Police Department

Crime Prevention Unit - East Sector

972-744-4908