BBB: Beware Of New Surprise Offer Text Message Scam
Texting is a way of life these days and scammers definitely know it. There are a bunch of text message scams already out there and now, the Better Business Bureau is warning of yet another one.
Although text message is a common way for scammers to target a consumer, there are many other creative ways they have found to scam people out of their money and personal information.
For example, scammers have been using social media quite often lately, making fake Facebook accounts for different local businesses. These scammers will then try to "friend" customers of the page they are posing as and then message them asking for money or personal information.
Recently, Visit Duluth fell victim to one of these scams. A scammer made a fake business account for the page and messaged people who accepted their friend request, claiming they won a prize and telling them to click on the link. Obviously, this is a scam and a phishing attempt.
While these scams are more commonplace these days, text message scams are still on the radar. The Better Business Bureau is now warning of yet another one that has taken shape recently.
According to their report, scammers are posing as big name businesses in an effort to gain your trust and ultimately, gain your banking information and your personal information.
This scam works as follows: a scammer messages you posing as a big name company. They use the pandemic as a means of gaining your trust and sympathy and offer you some type of deal or reimbursement. They may do so by offering you a gift card or a deal on your next bill.
From there, you are directed to click a link which leads to a fake webpage designed to look like the original webpage from the popular company. Once you log in to your account, hackers now have your username, password and usually, a saved method of payment they can use elsewhere.
This is extremely scary, as usually these scammers can make things look pretty realistic. You may not even know you are being scammed because the website looks so real or you don't visit the website often enough to know it is fake.
The BBB says scammers have been reported to be posing as the following companies:
- Hulu
- Netflix
- Verizon
- AT&T
- Walmart
- Amazon
- Costco
- USPS
The Better Business Bureau suggests you use caution whenever you receive a text like this. Companies do market by text message so it can be tricky to tell whether it is a scam or not. Always be cautious
They also suggest installing virus software on your phone so you don't get messages like this and of course, never clicking on a link you don't know is safe. Even more so, never give out personal information or banking information to a source that isn't verified.
Scammers aren't going to slow down anytime soon so its best to keep up with the latest on scams so you never fall victim. Scammers even took advantage of those going to the Minnesota State Fair this summer, offering fake tickets to those trying to attend.
The moral of the story? There is no scam too big or too small for those trying to take advantage of you.