The United States Government has issued a warning to Android and iPhone owners about a spoof scam that is allegedly being used by fraudsters.
It is possible to stop hackers from taking your banked information or savings. Just be aware of any red flags.
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Robotexts are on the rise, which is a scam where you receive a text that appears to originate from an unknown number, but actually comes from one of your trusted numbers. Federal Communications Commission
Scammers can use local numbers to make you think that it’s safe, or they could impersonate an agency of government or company which you are familiar with to encourage you to respond.
FCC receives complaints regarding texts that link to unsolicited and unwanted goods.
According to the agency, however, many of these spoofed text messages appear to be scams designed to steal personal information or financial data.
These texts have led some people to be pressured by a fraudulent website of a bank to validate a transaction or unfreeze a card.
Now the scammers have gone deeper.
Better Business Bureau Has warned consumers of a new scam in which fraudsters will pretend to have the wrong telephone number.
An example that the bureau gave was: “Hey is this John? It’s Amanda. It’s Amanda. We had a chat on Tinder when I was visiting my cousin before, but we didn’t meet irl. I’m back in town if you want to meet up this time, are you free?”
The bureau warns that while the message may appear innocent, in reality it’s a bot trying to get you involved into a convo and trick you eventually into providing your credit card details.
According to the Bureau, this puts you at risk of fraudulent charges and identification theft.
Ignoring Hackers
FCC gives tips on how to protect yourself from text spoofing.
The agency warned that you should not respond to texts sent by unknown numbers or suspect ones.
Also, they advise that you should never send sensitive financial or personal information via text.
Look out for any errors, whether they are misspellings of texts or emails that come from an incorrect email address.
FCC cautions users to use caution when they click links embedded in text.
You can call your friend and ask them if they were hacked.
This is also true if you receive an unexpected text message from a business.
You can call the number and confirm that they are legit.
FCC: It’s important to note that most government agencies do not initiate contact over text or phone.
Send the text to your provider by sending it to 7726 or SPAM.
The FCC is also a good place to file a complaint.
Report it to your bank and service provider immediately if you believe you have been a victim of a scam.