Area codes are being hit specifically from search queries or the amount of wealthy people in one area.

Cloudmark, a messaging security firm issued a list of the top 25 area codes that are being targeted by cellphone spammers.http://www.hyphenet.com/blog/area-code-getting-spammed/
Cities like Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, San Antonio, New York City and Austin are at the top of the list.
SMS spam being sent to cell phones is a growing number. Even though, phone companies are getting better at detecting and blocking them, so the actual spam reaching phones are going down.
Bank accounts and other spam is also increasing. Cyber-criminals attempt to use fraudulent text messages to fool people into revealing sensitive financial information. Most people in the United States are safe because they get their apps only from Google Play.
All the spam messages we receive selling diet pills or Viagra are only a threat if you purchase something from the website.
Most of these area codes are being spammed because of the amount of wealthy people in a small area.
Others because there is an abundant amount of similar search engine queries so spammers can more easily target the market.

http://www.hyphenet.com/blog/area-code-getting-spammed/

Generally people shouldn’t trust a phone number or URL sent to you in a text message. If the message looks like its from your bank, look up the phone number before you call it.
Bank phishing scammers are starting to copy the automated recordings directly from your bank to trick you into believing its legit.

How do spammers get your number

Spammers are acquiring your information from your SMS provider. There are large subsidiaries of companies with extensive databases in which are rented to marketers.
The messaging providers send messages via unauthorized routes to bypass the jurisdiction of Wireless Application Service Providers. The WASPA, is a mobile content and bulk simulator.
It’s hard to track down the origin of the SMS spammers, so they are hardly held accountable.
Have you received a text message spam?  Did you click on it?  Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Don’t miss out on the latest tech news and computer security alerts! Follow us on Twitter at @hyphenet,  “Like” us on Facebook or add us to your circle on Google+.

References:
Top 25 area codes getting spammed – USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/cybertruth/2013/09/13/top-25-area-codes-getting-spam/2808399/
September 13, 2013
How spammers get your number – City Press
http://www.citypress.co.za/business/how-spammers-get-your-number/

Instagram Bombarded with Fruit Attack

We all love showing the world our captured moments through Instagram.  This weekend many of you have noticed a plethora of fruit filled pictures popping up on the photo-sharing network.  Those photo's weren't all of your friends showing off the delicious seasonal fruit they were enjoying.  It was a mass spam attack that seized the network!  So don't give in to these photos with messages advertising for a great new miracle fruit diet.

The Juice

Fruit filled photographs began showing up in users' feeds, linking to fake BBC pages.  With headlines like, "Tropical Fruit Burns 17 Pounds in 22 Days. "  Or, "I saw it on the Dr. Oz show, this really works!"

These images were linked using the URL shortening service Bit.ly, disguising the real alias.  Now Bit.ly has issued a warning on the link, and Instagram confirmed the attack via email, according to a report on GigaOM.  Users have been experiencing the spam incident with the unwanted photos blasting on their accounts.  "Our security and spam team quickly took actions to secure the accounts involved, and the posted photos are being deleted.” reports GigaOM.

The Facebook-owned company admitted that "a small portion of our users experienced a spam incident where unwanted photos were posted from their accounts involved, and posted photos are being deleted."  The distorted view of a  "small portion" are more like 30,000 clicks to these deceiving photos.  There are over 130 million users on Instagram world-wide,  this photo-bomb is the first spam attack on the app.  A quick password reset and a little knowledge of who usually posts what kind of photos, can keep your personal information and computer safe.

Get the Facts

•  The free photo sharing app allows users to "filter" their image and share with friends through social networks.


•  When Instagram launched as an iPhone app, it hit one million users in two years


•  April 2012 Instagram was aquired by Facebook for 1 million $ in funds and stock


•  About 58 photographs are uploaded to Instagram each second


•  One new user is introduced to Instagram per second

Please visit http://www.hyphenet.com/blog/ for more blog posts on the latest technology and IT security news.


References:

Instagram hit by fruity spam attack
http://www.welivesecurity.com/2013/07/01/instagram-hit-by-fruity-spam-attack/
Published on July 1, 2013

Beware of Fruit: Instagram Experiences a Massive Fruit Diet Spam Attack
http://petapixel.com/2013/06/30/instagram-experiences-its-first-massive-spam-attack/
Published on Jun 30, 2013

Facts about Instagram
http://www.seemycity.com/about/some-facts-about-instagram/

Image courtesy of [adamr,rakratchada torsap] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net