← Years 7–8 Digital Systems

Smishing and vishing

Smishing is phishing by text message and vishing is phishing by phone call. Examples are a fake delivery text or a fake bank call that tries to trick you into sharing private details.

Part of: 7-8 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems and Security — Module 65, 9-10 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems and Security — Module 58, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 5.3 Cyber Security — Module 23, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Networks and Cyber Threats — Module 14, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Cyber Security Threats and Vulnerabilities — Module 30, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Cyber Security — Module 42

Understanding Smishing and vishing in Years 7–8 Digital Systems

What it does: The scam arrives as an SMS text with a link, which is how smishing works. The scam happens through a voice call where the caller pressures you for private details, which is vishing. Smishing means phishing by SMS text message. Fake delivery texts are a very common example. Smishing comes from SMS and phishing. Phone call scams are called vishing. Tapping the link could take you to a fake website or install malware. Delete and report the message. Scammers use pressure and urgency. Hang up and call the bank using a number you know is real. Unexpected texts with links and urgent demands are classic smishing signs.

Common mistakes: Smishing is phishing by text message, not by phone call. Line 1 should be smishing ← "text scam". A fake delivery message that arrives as a text is smishing. Vishing is a phone call, so line 3 should be "smishing".

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Smishing and vishing to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 26–74) and word search (Modules 4–74).

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Learning
Duo
You get a text saying 'Your parcel is held. Tap this link to pay a $2 fee.' You were not expecting a parcel. What is this?
Smishing (phishing by text message)Vishing (phishing by phone call)
Matches
Text says: "Parcel fee due." Reply: Tap the link to pay quickly.
↓
Tapping the link in an unexpected delivery text is risky. Do not click it. Check with the real delivery company using its official app or website.
Applying
Meanings
Term
smishing and vishing
Meaning
Smishing is phishing by text message and vishing is phishing by phone call. Examples are a fake delivery text or a fake bank call that tries to trick you into sharing private details.
Practice
smishing = phishing by text message
Testing
Gaps
is phishing by text message
Check Answer
Spots
1smishing ← "phone call scam"
2vishing ← "phone call scam"

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Quick Questions

1. You get a text saying 'Your parcel is held. Tap this link to pay a $2 fee.' You were not expecting a parcel. What is this?
A. Smishing (phishing by text message) ✓
B. Vishing (phishing by phone call)
Smishing means phishing by SMS text message. Fake delivery texts are a very common example.
2. A caller says they are from your bank and asks for your PIN to 'stop fraud'. What is this?
A. Vishing (phishing by phone call) ✓
B. Smishing (phishing by text message)
Vishing means phishing by voice call. A real bank will never ask for your PIN over the phone.
3. Which statement is true?
A. Smishing uses phone calls to trick people
B. Smishing uses text messages to trick people ✓
Smishing comes from SMS and phishing. Phone call scams are called vishing.
4. A text says 'Your parcel could not be delivered' with a strange link, and you did not order anything. What should you do?
A. Tap the link quickly to check what the parcel is
B. Do not tap the link, then delete and report the text ✓
Tapping the link could take you to a fake website or install malware. Delete and report the message.
5. A caller claiming to be from your bank says you must act right now or your account will be closed. What is the best response?
A. Hang up and call the number on your bank card ✓
B. Give them your details so the account stays open
Scammers use pressure and urgency. Hang up and call the bank using a number you know is real.

Match the Pairs

Text: "Your parcel is held. Pay $2 at http://post-fee.example" → Smishing: a fake delivery text that tries to trick you into clicking a link and paying
Call: "This is your bank. Read me the code we just sent you." → Vishing: a fake bank call that tries to trick you into giving away private details
Smishing is phishing by text message → SMS from unknown number: "Click to reschedule your delivery"
Vishing is phishing by phone call → Caller: "Your account is hacked. Tell me your PIN to fix it."
Text says: "Parcel fee due." Reply: Tap the link to pay quickly. → Tapping the link in an unexpected delivery text is risky. Do not click it. Check with the real delivery company using its official app or website.
Caller says: "I'm from your bank." Reply: Sure, my password is... → Never give passwords or codes to a caller who contacts you. Hang up and call the bank on its official number.

Key Term

smishing and vishing
Smishing is phishing by text message and vishing is phishing by phone call. Examples are a fake delivery text or a fake bank call that tries to trick you into sharing private details.

Fill in the Blanks

1. smishing is phishing by text message
Hint: Type the term for phishing done by text message.
2. vishing is phishing by phone call
Hint: Type how a vishing scammer contacts you.
3. A fake bank call is vishing
Hint: Type the term for a scam made over a phone call.
4. smishing = SMS + phishing
Hint: Type the short name for text messaging that forms the start of the word smishing.
5. Hang up, then call the bank's official number
Hint: Type the word describing the genuine, trusted number you should use instead of the caller's.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A smishing ← "phone call scam"
B vishing ← "phone call scam"
C print(smishing, vishing)
Line A — Smishing is phishing by text message, not by phone call. Line 1 should be smishing ← "text scam".
Question 2
A text ← "Pay parcel fee now"
B from ← "unknown number"
C scam_type ← "vishing"
D print(scam_type)
Line C — A fake delivery message that arrives as a text is smishing. Vishing is a phone call, so line 3 should be "smishing".
Question 3
A IF message is a text THEN
B scam ← "vishing"
C ELSE IF it is a call THEN
D scam ← "vishing"
E END IF
Line B — The IF branch is for a text message, which is smishing. Line 2 should set scam ← "smishing".
Question 4
A call ← "Account locked"
B asks_for_pin ← true
C IF asks_for_pin THEN
D action ← "read out PIN"
Line D — A real bank will never ask for your PIN on a call. The safe action is to hang up and call the number on your bank card, so line 4 should be action ← "hang up".
Question 5
A text ← "Missed parcel: click"
B known_parcel ← false
C IF known_parcel = false THEN
D action ← "click link"
Line D — You are not expecting a parcel, so the text is probably a smishing scam. Never click the link. Line 4 should be action ← "delete text".

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