// CYBER THREAT
Smishing & vishing explained
Scam texts (smishing) and scam calls (vishing) are booming. Here’s how these phone-based cons work and how to avoid being caught out.
- ● Plain English
- ● How to protect yourself
- ● Real help on call
/01 — WHAT IT IS
Know your enemy
Smishing is phishing by text message; vishing is phishing by phone call. Scammers pose as your bank, a delivery firm, a tech company or even a family member to pressure you into paying or sharing details.
Your phone deserves the same caution as your inbox. Genuine organisations don’t mind you hanging up to check.
- Texts with links to ‘track’ or ‘pay’
- Calls creating panic or urgency
- Requests for codes or PINs
- ‘Hi Mum/Dad, new number’ texts
- Numbers you don’t recognise
- Threats of fines or account closure
/02 — HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Stay one step ahead
Never tap text links
Go to the official app or website instead.
Hang up & call back
Use the number on your card or their official site.
Never share codes
Banks and providers never ask for full codes or PINs.
Verify family requests
Call the person directly on their known number.
Report & block
Forward scam texts to 7726 and block the sender.
Ask us
We’ll happily sanity-check a suspicious message.
Our partner Malwarebytes Premium blocks threats like this in real time — prefer to protect your own device?
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you.
/03 — IF YOU’VE BEEN HIT
What to do right now
-
01
Contact your bank
If you paid or shared details, call your bank immediately.
-
02
Change passwords
Reset anything you may have exposed; enable MFA.
-
03
Tell us
We’ll help secure your phone, accounts and devices.
// NEED THIS FIXED RIGHT NOW?
Skip the DIY — call 01202 775566 and we can be looking at your screen within minutes. You watch everything we do, and most problems on this page are fixed in one short remote session. (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm.)
// MORE THREATS EXPLAINED
Know the other scams too
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
What’s the difference between smishing and vishing?
Smishing is a scam by text message; vishing is a scam by phone call. Both try to trick you into paying or sharing details.
How do I report a scam text?
Forward it to 7726 (free) and block the sender. If you’ve shared details, contact your bank and us.
Can you secure my phone?
Yes — we help set up sensible security and advise on staying safe on mobile.
Worried about smishing & vishing?
We protect Dorset homes and businesses from threats like this every day — with layered security, Malwarebytes Premium and a real person to ask.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM