What are spam messages?

Spam messages are any unwanted or unrequested messages that you receive in your inbox, often promoting a product and service, or something that you need. It could be an email from Amazon about your pending order or a message from Paypal that requests you to verify your billing account. 

Besides being annoying messages, spam messages can cause harm by infecting victims’ devices with malware and viruses, which can be used to steal personal information. 

Generally, spam messages are referred to as phishing attacks. They are scam messages. Scammers imitate legitimate companies to try and make you fall for them. 

Once you click their legitimate-looking link, download files, malicious software will automatically install on your device. Once you provide personal and financial information, scammers can use your name to credit agreements, get loans, and worst, empty your bank account.

Why you’re getting spam messages?  

If you click a suspicious link or download files, you expose yourself to malware that is able to get your data on your device. They can also be trying to steal your credit card information like asking you to make a small payment for your delivery.

If you’re still using the same phone number or email address for many years, your information might have suffered from a data breach.

There are data brokers, who collect information by filling out forms, who trade and sell your information for marketing purposes. This could be the guy in the mall who gives you freebies in return for the data you provided.

The goal of spam messages is to trap you into opening the message, to fool you, and to defraud you. These people are highly money motivated. They send more and more spam messages because it works. 

However, take note that not all spam emails contain scams so you should be smart enough to spot a scam. 

Things you can do:

• Do not reply directly to spam messages.
• Never click any links in the message.
• Never download files that are attached to the message.
• Do not give any personal and financial information.
• Block the number or email addresses that have been sending you spam messages.
• Report by forwarding the text message to 7726 (SPAM).
• Report the incident by forwarding the message to CERT NZ. 

Another best way that you can do is to really ignore these messages.

For questions or concerns, feel free to message us. We’d be glad to help!