Smishing Scams: What Dealerships Need to Know and Do

In today's digital age, cyber threats are evolving, and the automotive dealership industry is not immune. One of the rising threats is smishing—a form of phishing that uses SMS messages to deceive recipients into providing sensitive information or clicking malicious links.

What is Smishing?

Smishing involves sending fraudulent text messages that appear to come from a trusted source. These messages often contain alarming language like "Your account has been suspended" or "Unusual activity detected" urging recipients to click on a link or provide personal information.

Why Dealerships Should Be Concerned:

• Customer Data at Risk: Dealerships handle a significant amount of personal and financial information. A successful smishing attack can lead to data breaches, compromising customer trust.

• Operational Disruption: Malware from smishing attacks can disrupt dealership operations, leading to downtime and financial losses.

• Reputation Damage: Falling victim to a smishing scam can harm your dealership's reputation, making customers wary of doing business with you.

How to Protect Your Dealership:

• Educate Your Team: Regularly train employees to recognize and report suspicious messages.
• Verify Communications: Always verify the authenticity of messages by contacting the sender through a known, trusted method.
• Implement Security Measures: Use multi-factor authentication and keep your software updated to protect against malware.

Let's stay vigilant and protect our industry from these evolving threats. Share this post to spread awareness and keep our community safe!