Relay Reports Surge In
Digital Safety Interest:
Combating Smishing In
Financial Institutions
Digital Safety Interest:
Combating Smishing In
Financial Institutions
Relay Network is partnering with banks to combat smishing
Radnor, PA, May 9, 2025 –
In an age where mobile communication reigns supreme, Relay Network is highlighting a sharp increase in attention surrounding smishing – a form of SMS phishing that poses ever-greater risks to financial institutions and their customers. Relay’s latest insights emphasize how banks can confront this urgent threat head-on through secure, trusted, and scalable digital communication solutions.
Smishing: A Growing Threat to Financial Institutions
Smishing schemes often mimc legitimate time-sensitive messages – like account lockouts or fraud alerts – and leverage customer concern to elicit clicks or sensitive data. These scams are particularly effective in financial services due to:
- Increasing consumer preference for easier communication
- The high value of customer financial data
- Pressure for urgent, real-time communication
According to Relay’s blog, mobile-based phishing surged by 39% in 2023, while 23% of all phishing attacks targeted financial institutions – underscoring the sector’s heightened vulnerability.
Relay’s Multi-Layered Defense Against Smishing
Leveraging deep industry knowledge and robust compliance standards (TCPA, HIPAA, and HITRUST), Relay offers a specialized, secure communication channel crafted to thwart smishing while maintaining reach and conversions. Key components include
- Dedicated short codes: Custom-coded SMS identifies unique to each institution help customers recognize legitimate messages and enable carriers to block spoofed content.
- Secure, branded smart links: Messages include personalized, device-bound smart links that lead users to a secure Relay Feed (no app download required), avoiding sensitive content exposure within SMS.
- Customer education tools: Pre-launch resources built with the Relay client – such as FAQs, explainer videos, and reference codes – empower recipients to recognize authentic Relay messages and avoid smishing traps.
- Carrier-level protections: Messages flow through a verified SMS aggregator, ensuring only authenticated communications reach customers and spoofed attempts are auto-blocked.
- Contact card innovation: Relay’s latest feature enables users to save a verified, branded contact directly to their phone. Future messages appear as coming from the saved brand contact – strengthening recognition and trust around critical communications.
Smishing has evolved from a fringe threat to an imminent risk in financial communications. Relay Network empowers banks with multi-layered security and a top performing channel – so they can confidently reach customers while preventing misinformation and fraud.”
– Patricia Diaz, VP Product Marketing, Relay Network.
About Relay Network
Relay Network is the innovator in B2C communications bringing to the market a secure content delivery channel that enables enterprises to reach and drive customers to action through a personalized, mobile experience, without requiring a login or download. By combining SMS with feed technology, Relay delivers tailored, action-oriented content directly to each customer in a scrolling feed, driving better outcomes across industries like healthcare, financial services, insurance, and life sciences.