TRACKING A PERSON THROUGH SPAM EMAILS AND SMISHING TEXT MESSAGES (SMS) TYPICALLY INVOLVES MALICIOUS LINKS, EMBEDDED TRACKING CODE, OR SOCIAL ENGINEERING TACTICS. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

1 – Tracking via Email
Tracking Pixels: A tiny invisible image (1×1 pixel) embedded in the email can alert the sender when you open the message, revealing your IP address, device type, and general location.

Malicious Links: Clicking a link in a spam email can: Install malware (e.g., spyware or keyloggers).

Redirect you to a fake site to harvest personal information (phishing).

Trigger a background process that logs your location or network info.

IP Logging: Some links log your IP and create a digital footprint tied to your device.

2 – Tracking via Smishing Text Messages (SMS)
Malicious Links in SMS (Smishing): Clicking these can: Install tracking software.

Grant access to GPS, contacts, messages, or even your microphone/camera.

Silent Ping Messages: Some advanced attackers or government agencies may use “silent” texts to check if a device is active and its location, although this is typically more sophisticated and not common in everyday spam.

What You Can Do:

1 – Never click unknown links.

2 – Use a VPN to obscure your IP address.

3 – Disable image auto-loading in email settings to block tracking pixels.

4 – Keep your phone and antivirus software updated.

5 – Use spam filters and report suspicious messages.