A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an innactive atorney in San Mateo County, California.

September 21, 2022

ROBOTEXTS SCAMS

Attribution: scambusters

Spammers and scammers have stepped up their game with spam text messages called “robotexts”.

They may be only fishing for names of people interested in particular products, which they then sell to people who compile marketing lists.

Some of the signs to watch for include:

Phone numbers you don’t recognize or numbers longer than 10 digits-

Vague information that’s supposed to make you want to know more-

Questions that seem to come from someone you don’t know-

Misspellings that are intended to avoid blocking software-

Government departments (and many other organizations) don’t initiate contact via texts.

10 Key Actions to Protect Yourself:

Here’s what the Federal Communications Commission says you can do to protect yourself and help others from the robotext onslaught:

Don’t reply to suspicious texts; don’t even send a “STOP” response if you’re invited to do so-.

Don’t click on links or provide information about yourself.-

File a complaint to the FCC (https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us) and/or forward the text to SPAM (7726)-

Delete all suspicious texts.-

Consider installing an anti-malware app, and keep all device security software and operating systems up to date-.

Review text-blocking settings from your phone service provider and on the device itself-.

Both iOS (Apple) and Android phones have spam protection options built in.-

When you visit websites that legitimately require your name and phone number, check their privacy policies regarding text and info-sharing opt-outs.

If someone you know sends a text with a suspicious link that seems out of character, call them to make sure they weren’t hacked-.

If you get an unexpected text from a business you deal with, look up and visit their legitimate website and contact them.-

“The FCC prohibits autodialed text messages from being sent to your mobile phone unless you previously gave consent to receive the message or the message is sent for emergency purposes,” it says.

“The FCC has made clear that phone companies can block suspicious text messaging as a default policy.”

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