Three words in a text message you should never ignore - it's a sign you're being scammed

Tech expert Tim Bajarin has revealed that there are certain phrases used by scammers that should set alarm bells ringing as it could be the sign of a high-risk scam

A tech analyst has warned that three words in a text message could be a sign you're being scammed and you should delete it immediately. Certain phrases used by unknown numbers should raise alarm bells as they could indicate a high-risk scam, potentially compromising your data or causing financial distress.

Tech expert Tim Bajarin has highlighted what people should look out for when receiving texts from unfamiliar numbers. He says the three-word phrase "would you kindly" is one to watch, but even just the word "kindly" could signal a scam, he revealed in a recent interview.

Speaking to Reader's Digest, Tim said: "The word 'kindly' is simply something we don't use in our common vernacular in the US. You'll often hear it used in countries with British influence, perhaps once a colonial country, where English isn't their mother tongue [such as Nigeria, India and Pakistan]."

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

Tim has since identified it as a "red flag" phrase, one of many to be wary of in texts from unknown numbers. He added: "If you see this word or phrase, it's a red flag, similar to poor spelling or grammar."

Doug Shadel of Fraud Prevention Strategies also warned there was more than one phrase to be cautious of, and several should make you "highly suspicious"

He warned: "Really, any communication that you get that's unsolicited - whether it's a text or robocall, social media message or email - should make you highly suspicious. If you didn't initiate this correspondence, chances are it's a scam."

Even seemingly harmless messages like "Did I miss you today? " or "I'll be late for the meeting" should raise alarm bells. Shadel advised: "When you write back to ask who it is or tell them they've got the wrong person, they will try to defraud you in some manner. If it's an 'imposter' message, like someone claiming to be from, say, Bank of America or the IRS, never click on the link or attachment. If you're not sure if it's [legit], you should independently log into that account with your own login and password - not what was sent to you - to see if the institution truly was trying to contact you."