What is smishing and phishing?

Ever gotten a weird text with a suspicious link? Or an email from a "bank" that isn't yours? That could be smishing or phishing. These two cyber scams may sound funny, but they can cause serious harm, especially for families with kids online for school, gaming, and socializing.

Smishing and phishing are both forms of social engineering, which involves tricking someone into disclosing personal information. The difference? One happens over text, the other over email. Let’s break it down.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyberattack in which scammers send fake emails that appear to come from a trusted source. These messages are designed to trick people into sharing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security details.

These emails often use logos, language, and formatting that mimic real companies or institutions, such as your bank, your favorite retailer, or even your child’s school. The email may urge you to click a link or open an attachment to "verify" your identity or claim a reward. But behind that button? A fake site or malware download that’s waiting to steal your data.

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Example of phishing: "We've noticed unusual activity on your account. Please verify your identity here."

Even savvy adults can fall for phishing. Now imagine how tempting that message might be for a child who isn't yet familiar with digital red flags.

Greenlight's Family Shield plan can help protect you against these types of attacks, with safety features that include credit monitoring*, identity theft protection**, and dark web monitoring.

What is smishing?

Smishing is short for "SMS phishing." It works similarly to phishing, but lands in your texts. The goal is the same: Trick you into sharing personal information or clicking a malicious link.

Smishing messages often look like delivery updates, urgent bank alerts, or even messages from someone pretending to know you. They can feel more personal and immediate than emails, which makes them especially risky.

Example of smishing: "Your package is delayed. Track it here: [fake link]"

Other common tactics include fake alerts about locked accounts, job offers, or gift card scams. Some even spoof real phone numbers to look legit.

Because kids and teens often check texts more than email, they’re more likely to encounter smishing attacks and respond without thinking twice.

Why smishing and phishing are dangerous

Smishing and phishing scams can put your family's private information at serious risk. A single click could expose sensitive data like banking credentials, passwords, or even your child’s or parent's Social Security number. Beyond financial damage, scams like these can open the door to identity theft, deceptive transfers, and long-term digital fallout.

Scammers can target anyone, from tech-savvy teens to seniors managing finances online for the first time. The emotional cost can be just as high as the financial one.

Common signs of smishing and phishing

Look for these red flags:

• Unexpected messages from unknown numbers or emails

• Spelling or grammar errors

• Urgent or threatening language

• Requests for personal info

• Suspicious links or attachments

If something feels off, it probably is.

What to do if you get a suspicious message

1. Don't click links or download attachments.

2. Don't reply, even if they say "text STOP."

3. Verify the sender by contacting the company directly.

4. Report it to your mobile carrier or email provider.

5. Delete the message to avoid accidental clicks.

And if your child gets a suspicious message? Walk through it with them. Use it as a teaching moment.

How to protect your family

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to stay safe. Just a few smart steps can go a long way:

• Talk to your kids about online scams

• Use spam filters and parental controls

• Set privacy settings on devices and apps

• Enable multi-factor authentication where possible

• Regularly check devices for strange activity

• Add safety apps that offer fraud protection

You can add more protection layers with safety apps* like Greenlight’s Family Shield. Families can link financial accounts for older loved ones and receive alerts if anything looks suspicious. Additionally, Greenlight provides up to $1 million in identity theft protection** and $100,000 in coverage for deceptive transfer fraud for senior members.

Protect your $ and family. Keep everyone's safety and finances in check with Greenlight — the all-in-one educational money app. Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.

*Premium monitoring services are offered by Experian.

**Insurance offered by Acrisure, LLC is provided by ACE American Insurance Company and its U.S.-based Chubb underwriting company affiliates. www.chubb.com. Additional details can be viewed here. See link for policy information. Insurance Products are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency and are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, any bank or bank affiliate.