Just had a smishing attempt today, so I guess it's as good a time as ever for a little reminder. Smishing is the use of Short Message Service (SMS), or texting, to gain personal information.

I got a text from area code 816, which is Kansas City. The text claimed to come from USPS, and said my deliveries are on hold due to incomplete house number. First of all, I know this was BS. The numbers on my place are three inches tall and reflective; very easy to see day or night. It requested that I open a URL and provide additional information. It would probably take a crowbar (and a gun) to seperate me from my personal info.

Long story short: Per the United States Postal Service, they will never text you unless you have requested text updates for a specific package. Requesting text updates is done package by package, meaning if one requests text updates for package A, you will not recieve updates for subsequent packages without an additional request.

Additionally, texts from USPS will not come from a phone number, but from 28777 (2USPS).

This happens throughout the year, but is more prevalent around Xmas, when lots of folks are expecting packages.

I know everyone here is probably aware of these things to some extent, but I think this bears repeating. Be safe. Protect your info.