Spam messages are unwanted marketing texts sent without your consent. They might try to steal your personal information, sell you expensive services, or persuade you to contact other companies that will try to sell you something.
SMS phishing (Smishing for short) is a type of scam where fraudsters send texts to trick you into visiting fake websites or calling certain numbers. They may try to get your confidential details, infect your device with malware, or get you to use costly premium-rate services.
What can a Smishing message look like? 👀
What can a Smishing message look like? 👀
Smishing texts can be very convincing and often look like they’ve come from trusted organisations, but there are some common signs to watch out for:
⚠️ Urgent warnings – saying your account will be locked or compromised if you don’t act quickly.
🎁 Prize or offer scams – claiming you’ve won something or can get a deal, but only if you click a link or reply right away.
🔗 Dodgy links – messages asking you to tap on a link to update your details, track a delivery, or view an invoice.
💸 Payment issues – saying there’s a problem with a recent payment or delivery and asking you to confirm your bank details.
📦 Fake delivery updates – pretending to be from couriers like Royal Mail or DPD, asking you to pay a small fee to release a parcel.
✍ Spelling mistakes - Careless spelling mistakes can be a clear sign something’s not quite right – keep an eye out for them.
Always think twice before clicking links or replying to texts you weren’t expecting – even if they look real. Fraudsters will hope to play on your emotions in an attempt to get you to follow their instructions.
📲 SMS from SMARTY
We’ll only ever send you SMS messages about your service, network, or marketing (only if you’ve opted in).
SMARTY will never ask for personal details over SMS. If you weren’t expecting a text from us or aren’t sure it’s really from SMARTY, don’t reply; contact us to check.
If you’re worried about receiving spam messages, or have received a message and want to know what to do:
At SMARTY, we take text fraud seriously and are dedicated to protecting you from spam text messages and calls. If you've received a text message asking you to enter your card details or other personal information, it's likely to be text spam and you can report this to us. Following this, you should delete the message immediately.
Our advice is:
Don’t respond to texts from unknown numbers asking for sensitive information.
Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments in suspicious messages.
Be wary of urgent or threatening messages pressuring you to act quickly.
If a message seems suspicious or unexpected, it probably is; trust your gut and don’t reply!
Always verify messages by contacting the company directly using official contact details.
I responded to a spam message, what should I do?
I responded to a spam message, what should I do?
🔐 Change your passwords – especially for important accounts like SMARTY, online banking, and email.
🏦 Let your bank know – if you entered any card or bank details or made any payments, contact them as soon as possible. They’ll advise you on the best next steps.
❌ Don’t reply again – even replying "STOP" to a scam message can let fraudsters know your number is active. Best to ignore and block.
📨 Report the message – you can forward spam texts to 7726.
How you can prevent spam texts 🚫
Report
Reporting allows us and other mobile networks to take action against messages that are causing distress.
Forward the unwanted message free of charge to 7726. (Ofcom have a handy guide on how to forward messages here)
You will receive a follow-up message asking for the number the message was sent from.
Once provided, a final message will be received acknowledging receipt of your report.