BEWARE: CYBER SCAMMERS’ LATEST TEXT SCAMS TARGETING ADLA SCHOOLS AND PARISHES

“Smishing” (SMS phishing) is a type of fraudulent activity that involves using SMS or text messages to trick people into giving up personal information so that money can be fraudulently obtained. Perpetrators use various techniques to gain the trust of a victim and may provide specific instructions, which if followed, could result in monetary loss to the victim. Perpetrators may impersonate someone you know that is in some position of authority (a priest, teacher, manager, police, or government agency).

DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM.
If you receive such texts do the following:

• Take time to consider your actions before responding to suspicious text messages.
• If in doubt, call the published main number of the parish, school or administrative office from whom the text claims to have been sent to authenticate the text message.
• Do not respond to the text message if you doubt its origin.

For more information, and to stay up to date about the latest cyber security threats impacting ADLA locations, visit the ADLA website or https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts