Don’t Get Hooked: The Real Threat Behind Political-Themed Scam Texts
In an age of constant political noise, it’s easy to dismiss a random text message as just more campaign chatter. But some of those texts aren’t from real candidates—they’re from cybercriminals hoping you’ll take the bait.
One recent example circulating looks like this:
“From Trump: PLEASE! Have you ever been a Democrat? I don’t mind as long as you support me now! Please respond: [malicious link]”
Messages like this play on urgency, identity, and emotion to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link. It’s a classic form of “smishing”—short for SMS phishing—and it’s becoming more common during election seasons and high-profile news cycles.
Why These Messages Work
- They use familiar names (like political figures or celebrities) to gain trust.
- They create urgency or flattery (“Please respond now!”).
- They include shady links that may install malware or collect your personal data.
Red Flags to Watch For
- A sense of urgency or emotional manipulation.
- URLs that look strange or unfamiliar (e.g., short links, domains that mimic legit ones).
- Messages from unknown or odd-looking phone numbers.
- Offers or requests that seem too good (or weird) to be true.
What You Should Do
- Don’t click any links. Even if you’re curious—don’t do it.
- Block and report the number. On most phones, you can mark a message as spam with just a couple taps.
- Warn friends and family. Especially those who might not be as familiar with scams like these.
- Enable spam protection in your phone’s settings, and consider apps like Hiya or Truecaller for additional filtering.
Not Just Politics—It Could Be Anything
Scammers are equal opportunity impersonators. One week it’s a political message, the next it’s a fake delivery notice or IRS warning. The formula is the same: hook you emotionally, rush your decision, and compromise your data.
Stay Alert. Stay Safe.
At Wentz IT Consulting, we believe security isn’t just for big businesses. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a nonprofit, or a concerned parent trying to protect your family’s phones, a little awareness goes a long way. Here’s a complimentary checklist to help you stay safe.