BBB
Better Business Bureau® Serving Central Oklahoma is advising Oklahomans to be wary of unsolicited text messages coming from anonymous numbers. A new seemingly innocent text scam has been reported to BBB®. This text scam, using a phony “wrong number” claim, hopes to garner a response from the recipient.
The text scam begins when the recipient receives a message similar to the following: “It’s been a little bit since u called, do u want me yet?” Also common with this message is a selfie-style photo of a young woman.
Once the recipient responds, even if the response is “Sorry, wrong number,” the stranger will continue the conversation. The stranger, actually a chat bot on the other end, is likely trying to encourage the recipient to give his or her credit card number to sign up for dating or adult websites. Giving over credit card information could put a person at risk for fraudulent charges and even identity theft.
The following tips are offered to consumers looking to steer clear of text messaging scams:
1. Be skeptical. Strangers on the internet can pretend to be anyone.
2. Check for spelling and grammatical errors. While not all scammers have poor grammar, inconsistencies in the text message can give you a hint in its validity.
3. Guard personal information and photos.
For more, go to: https://www. bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-phony-text-message
If you have compromised your personal information, report the incident to law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission online at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/assistant.
