Beware: Con Artists Now Turn to Robotexting

We survived emails from assorted con artists & hacker robocalls trying to click on their devious links, but now we’re getting inundated with texted scams promising awards & deals (for themselves). Ignore? Ignore? Ignore?

Says the WSJ’s Nicole Nguyen: “Scam robotext messages have exploded, but you can protect yourself by not clicking links, never texting back and turning on your phone’s unknown message filter.” Last month, she notes, the FCC issued an advisory about an uptick in consumer complaints about suspicious texts, but numerous media outlets have been publishing stories about the phenomenon for over 2 years now. Among the scams are not only gifts about a gift, prize or reimbursement, but dire warnings about account freezes. Some, btw, are “seen” on your not so smart phone as coming from your smart phone. And, others just ask you to “confirm” receipt of this, that or the other whatchamacallit.

The FCC significantly cut down the spamming via robocalls with a spate of tough new rules last year and is considering similar rules for text messaging cons, which have reached 12 billion per month. Failure to protect yourself of course can expose your phone and its information to the con artists.

Davd Soul