Here’s a tip that’s worth repeating:
Don’t click on a link in a text message you get on your phone that says you’ve won a terrific prize or a gift card. Don’t reply either. It’s probably a scam.
The Federal Trade Commission settled charges with a group of marketers that were part of a scheme that sent millions of unsolicited spam text messages promoting supposedly free merchandise like $1,000 gift cards for Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
People who clicked the links in the messages didn’t get the promised prizes. Instead, they were taken to websites that asked them to give personal information and sign up for multiple offers, often involving purchases or paid subscriptions.
What can you do about unwanted text messages?
- Delete unwanted text messages that ask you to enter a special code, or to confirm or provide personal information. Legitimate companies won’t send you a text asking for sensitive information.
- Don’t click on links in the text message. Links can take you to spoof sites that look real but will steal your personal information.
- Report spam texts to your carrier. Copy the original message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM) free of charge, if you are an AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint subscriber.
It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.
The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.
In reply to I fell for that Best Buy one by Rita Jorgenson
In reply to It's easy to believe that a by Numerous "Walm…
In reply to No it's not. They don't need by notmyemail
In reply to What do you mean "No it's by JustMe
In reply to What do you mean "No it's by JustMe
In reply to It's easy to believe that a by Numerous "Walm…
In reply to I fell for that Best Buy one by Rita Jorgenson
In reply to I fell for that Best Buy one by Rita Jorgenson
In reply to Received text from completely by Just happened.
In reply to I got this same thing as well by Leaf
In reply to I, just yesterday, revieced a by Kyli-Bob
In reply to In the last two days I got by JLSTLDon't use…
In reply to This is vital. I have by Ruth Casey Don…
In reply to of course not. haha by LOL
In reply to I also started receiving by mln5663
In reply to I also recently registered my by joy4u2c
If you register with the FTC for the legitimate Do Not Call registry, you need to give your email. Within 72 hours after you register the number, you will get an email that confirms your registration. You have to click on a link in the email from the Do Not Call registry to complete the registration. If you don't click on the link in the email, you won't be registered.
The legitimate Do Not Call registry with the FTC does not ask for your name or address. If you found a site that is pretending to be the FTC Do Not Call registry, please report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
In reply to of course not. haha by LOL
In reply to Thanks for the warning. Here by wait4memz
In reply to Bluebird itself is not a scam by potatogang
In reply to WATCH OUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. by SHAYNA16
In reply to WATCH OUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. by SHAYNA16
In reply to I know! I've been getting a by Owl Head
Report it, then block them from calling or texting you. Look at your options available in your text message list. On Android, its "More", "Block number". Pretty sure Apple has that function too.
In reply to I know! I've been getting a by Owl Head
In reply to I had to pay 110.00 to cancel by mistyblue
In reply to I received a text from a by Anonymous123
In reply to I received a text from 1-440 by Inevitable79
In reply to i received a text, today, Dec by Kate
As part of a lawsuit filed by the FTC against AT&T, AT&T will refund consumers who were billed by third parties without autorization. AT&T is sending out text messages to customers who had premium text message charges added to their bills sometime after January 2009. If you didn't authorize any premium text message services, then you will want to file a claim at ftc.gov/att.
In reply to i received a text, today, Dec by Kate
In reply to Hi,got a text from "offers by Puzzeled
You're right; it's probably a scam. Don’t click on a link in a text message you get on your phone that says you’ve won a prize or a gift card. Don’t reply either.
In reply to You're right; it's probably a by FTC Staff
In reply to You're right; it's probably a by FTC Staff
In reply to today I received a text from by ohdang123
If you get another message like this, don’t click on the links in the text message. Links can take you to spoof sites that look real but will steal your personal information.
You can report spam texts to your carrier. Copy the original message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM) free of charge, if you are an AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint subscriber.
In reply to today I received a text from by ohdang123
Pagination