One Mistake Will Cost You Dearly: Israelis Warned of Dangerous SMS

Israelis have been warned about a sharp rise in SMS phishing attacks. Scammers send messages in the name of well-known companies, trying to get recipients to click a malicious link and provide bank card details or confirmation codes. The number of such attacks has grown by about 400% recently. To check suspicious messages, the free service ScanMySMS, developed by startup Cyvore, is used. In its first month, it was used about 10,000 times, detecting about 200 malicious links. About 73% of fraudulent transactions occur after customers' own actions. Scammers often demand a small amount—up to 50 shekels—but the goal is larger deductions. In 2025, about 13,700 phishing-related complaints were registered, 35% more than the previous year.

Israelis have been warned about a sharp rise in SMS phishing attacks. Scammers send messages in the name of well-known companies and services, trying to get recipients to click a malicious link and voluntarily provide bank card details or confirmation codes. The number of such attacks via text messages has grown by about 400% recently. In the last 48 hours alone, several phishing campaigns disguised as payment demands from Highway 6 operator and a debt collection system were detected. To check suspicious messages, the free service ScanMySMS, developed by Israeli startup Cyvore and available through the website of credit company MAX, is used. In its first month, the tool was used about 10,000 times, detecting about 200 malicious links. The scheme is designed to make people act quickly without verifying the information. Attackers increasingly use artificial intelligence and social engineering to make messages look like real company notifications. A particular danger is that many transactions are actually confirmed by the victims themselves. According to the data, about 73% of fraudulent transactions occur after customers' own actions, when they are persuaded to reveal card details or a one-time confirmation code. Scammers often demand a relatively small amount—up to 50 shekels. In the message, it may be called a delivery fee, commission, or debt. However, obtaining this money is usually not the main goal. The payment data entered on a fake page can later be used for larger deductions. A characteristic pattern is also noted: scammer activity increases towards the end of the week, when the ability to quickly contact company support and verify the received message may be limited. The phishing problem in Israel continues to grow. According to the National Cyber Directorate, about 13,700 phishing-related complaints were registered in 2025. This is about 52% of all public complaints and 35% more than the previous year. Israelis are advised not to click links in unexpected SMS demanding urgent payment. Bank details, passwords, and one-time confirmation codes should not be provided in response to such messages. If in doubt, information should be verified directly through the official website or app of the relevant company.