Q COSTARICA — This year, Costa Rica is facing a growing wave of digital scams via SMS messages. Institutions such as the Consejo Nacional de Viabilidad (COSEVI) have warned about fake messages circulating that misuse their name, while banks report an increase in attempted fraud that exploits the supposed expiration of “points about to expire.”
These messages include links that lead to fraudulent websites designed to mimic official shopping or service pages in order to steal personal and financial data. This method—known as smishing—has become one of the main digital threats of 2026.
Read more: Scam Alert: Transito/Cosevi phishing attacks on your cell phone
In this regard, Rolando Rojas Coto, head of technological infrastructure at the Directorate of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) of the National Distance Learning University (UNED), noted that this activity has generated concern among authorities and cybersecurity specialists.
“Throughout the year, we’ve seen various scams, whether by phone calls, email, and currently, quite a few via SMS. Some typical red flags are messages claiming you have points about to expire or a very urgent prize,” he explained.
He added that these scams also include a link for quick access, create pressure by indicating it’s the last day or that it’s urgent, come from unknown or unofficial numbers, and contain grammatical errors or unusual formatting.
The expert emphasized that these practices aim to create psychological pressure on people, appealing to their sense of urgency and fear of losing benefits or facing penalties. “It’s very important to know what not to do and what to do, such as not clicking on unknown links, not entering personal information, and not responding in any way,” he said.
He recommended ignoring the message, deleting it, and verifying directly with the institution or bank through their official channels.
“Prevention is the best defense. Activating two-step verification, keeping your phone updated, and being wary of any message that asks you to act quickly are key measures to protect yourself. Digital literacy is fundamental to reducing the impact of these scams,” he added.
Recommendations. Given this situation, the UNED expert made a series of recommendations, including:
What NOT to do
- Do not click on unknown or suspicious links.
- Do not enter personal information such as usernames, passwords, or codes.
- Do not reply to the sender or download attachments.
What TO do
- Ignore and delete the message immediately.
- Verify using official apps or call the bank/institution using official numbers.
- Report and block the number as spam on your phone.
- Digital protection tips
- Activate two-step verification on accounts and devices.
- Keep your phone updated with the latest software versions.
- Use anti-spam apps to detect suspicious messages.
- Be wary of urgent claims about prizes or expiring points.
“We reiterate the importance of providing citizens with digital education and fraud prevention training, and we urge them to remain vigilant and apply good security practices when using their mobile devices,” concluded the UNED professional.