People, culture & awareness
Phishing sent as a text message, usually a short, urgent note with a link or a number to call.
Formal
A form of phishing delivered by text message or chat app instead of email; the short format hides the real sender and the full link address, and texts usually pass through fewer filters than work email.
In plain English
Like a fake parking ticket tucked under your wiper - it looks official enough that you pay before you check.
In practice
The secretary at a school gets a text, apparently from the municipality's IT department, saying her account closes today unless she confirms her login; the link leads to a copy of the municipality's login page.
Why it matters
People read texts within minutes and trust their phone more than their inbox, while work phones often sit outside the organisation's usual protection.