There have been scams around as long as humans have been around, which means that there are thousands of different ways for the unscrupulous among us to trick people out of their money.
Before we get into why you should be concerned and/or cautious about smishing, it might be a good idea to define the word for those who don't know a smish from a phish.
It's not that there's anything wrong with the free COVID-19 tests being offered up by Uncle Sam for the low, low price of...well, free. The problem lies with how you order those tests.
You've got to appreciate consistency. In a world where things are constantly being disrupted, postponed, and cancelled, the people who prey on others sure aren't locking themselves down.
Before you drop off bags of old clothes and shoes in one of the donation bins you see around the Stateline area, you should be aware of this one important thing.
One of the worst but most effective scams to thrive under pandemic conditions has been the puppy scam. It really kicked into gear during the many lockdowns because more people were home, but even with less restrictions, it's still going strong.
Scammers are out doing their thing month in and month out, regardless of the time or season of the year. However, knowing how much shopping and bargain-hunting is going on right now, they're really zeroed in on potential victims.