variants
or less commonly SMiShing
: the practice of sending text messages to someone in order to trick the person into revealing personal or confidential information which can then be used for criminal purposes
Don't get too excited if you receive a text message announcing you've won a gift card from a big retailer. Chances are it's smishing—or scams perpetrated by text messages.—
Emily Glazer
Emily GlazerSmishing is essentially phishing ported to mobile devices and typically arrives in the form of a text message suggesting the user has signed up for a service, and will be charged until they cancel using a web site. The site then prompts the user to click on a link, which actually triggers the download of a Trojan horse …—Computing
Computingcalled also SMS phishing
compare phishingExamples of smishing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In January, the FTC flagged a smishing scam: a message that appears to be from a state road toll company that informs recipients about an outstanding balance.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
John Goodwin, assistant director of communications with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco, said the smishing campaign may not be confined to the United States.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 23 Feb. 2025
What’s the difference between phishing and smishing?
—Dan Avery, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025
Updates Person of interest identified in disappearance of US student in the Dominican Republic Toll road scammers continue to send ‘smishing’ texts: Don't click on these links
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smishing
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Solcyré Burga, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
John Goodwin, assistant director of communications with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco, said the smishing campaign may not be confined to the United States.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 23 Feb. 2025
What’s the difference between phishing and smishing?
—Dan Avery, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025
Updates Person of interest identified in disappearance of US student in the Dominican Republic Toll road scammers continue to send ‘smishing’ texts: Don't click on these links
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smishing
Cite this Entry
“Smishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smishing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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