Smishing tools refer to the software, services, and techniques cybercriminals use to execute SMS phishing (smishing) attacks, such as fraudulent text messages designed to steal personal information, financial data, or login credentials.
These smishing tools enable attackers to scale operations, evade detection, and impersonate trusted brands or individuals to deceive victims effectively.
1. SMS Spoofing Services
SMS spoofing tools allow attackers to manipulate the sender ID of a text message, making it appear as if it’s coming from a legitimate entity like a bank, government agency, or well-known company.
For example, a victim may receive a message from what looks like their bank, urging them to “verify” their account details via a phishing link. Since many mobile carriers display only the sender’s name (and not the actual phone number), unsuspecting users often fall for these attacks.
These attacks are real and all too prevalent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that in 2022, bank impersonation scams via SMS led to an average loss of approximately $3,000 per victim.
Services that provide SMS spoofing capabilities can be found on underground forums and sometimes even in legal gray areas of bulk messaging providers.
Learn more about checking phishing links
2. Bulk SMS Sender Tools
Cybercriminals use bulk SMS sender tools to distribute thousands of phishing messages at once. These tools are designed to bypass spam detection and maximize the number of victims reached.
Attackers may use SIM farms, which are racks of physical SIM cards that rotate phone numbers to avoid triggering carrier blacklists. Another common method is leveraging botnets—compromised devices that send smishing messages in a distributed manner to avoid detection.
3. Phishing Kits for Smishing
Phishing kits provide pre-built fake login pages designed to mimic banking portals, email login pages, or government websites. These kits often come with step-by-step automation, making it easy for attackers with little technical expertise to launch large-scale smishing campaigns.
Some kits even include real-time credential capture, meaning attackers get login details as soon as a victim enters them, allowing for instant account takeovers.
4. URL Shorteners & Malicious Redirects
One of the simplest yet most effective smishing tools is the URL shortener to disguise malicious links. Since shortened links don’t immediately reveal their true destination, they make it harder for victims to identify phishing attempts.
More advanced attackers use custom URL shorteners to generate unique links per victim, making it more difficult for security teams to track and block these domains.
Some smishing campaigns also use multi-stage redirects, where clicking on a malicious link first takes the victim to a seemingly harmless webpage before redirecting them to the actual phishing page.
5. Automated Chatbots & Social Engineering Scripts
Some smishing campaigns go beyond simple phishing links by incorporating automated chatbots that engage victims in text conversations. These bots simulate human interaction, often impersonating customer support agents or financial institution representatives.
They may request additional verification details like security codes, Social Security numbers, or answers to security questions. More advanced scripts can dynamically adjust responses based on the victim’s replies, making the deception even more convincing.
Just recently, Wired.com released a story about how the loneliness epidemic has been exploited through AI-generated chatbots that engage victims in fraudulent romantic relationships, leading to substantial financial losses. Over the past decade, such scams have resulted in more than $4.5 billion in losses in the U.S.
6. Malware Distribution via SMS
Instead of just stealing credentials, some smishing attacks use malware-laced SMS messages to infect a victim’s device. These messages may prompt the user to download a fake mobile banking app, an urgent security update, or a tracking app for an undelivered package.
Once installed, this malware can log keystrokes, access stored passwords, and even take over SMS functionality to intercept two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. Android users are particularly vulnerable to these attacks due to the ability to install apps from third-party sources.
7. Smishing-as-a-Service (SaaS) & Dark Web Smishing Kits
In recent years, cybercriminals have taken smishing to the next level with Smishing-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings. These underground services provide a full suite of tools for launching smishing campaigns, including bulk SMS delivery, phishing site hosting, and automation scripts.
Some even offer customer support and tutorials, making it easier for non-technical criminals to get started. These services can be found on dark web marketplaces where they operate similarly to legal SaaS businesses—complete with pricing tiers, subscription plans, and usage dashboards.
Protecting Your Organization
Smishing attacks are evolving rapidly, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Organizations and individuals must stay vigilant by using AI-driven threat detection, SMS filtering, and employee training to recognize these attacks. As attackers continue to refine their techniques, businesses must implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and prevent financial losses.
Bolster proactively monitors for potential threats and provides options for neutralizing those threats. Request a demo with us today to start protecting your business.
