What Those 'Hello' Scam Texts Everyone Is Getting Are REALLY About

When someone you do not know texts you "hello," what this scammer is first trying to figure out is if your phone number is active.

“Hello?” 

Nowadays, we regularly receive dozens of these texts from unknown numbers. But these innocuous greetings often have a sinister goal. 

These unsolicited texts to mobile numbers are often part of “smishing” campaigns ― a term that combines “SMS” and “phishing.” Under these schemes, bad actors send people texts to tap into their curiosity or fear...