Txt message scam

[bwframe]

I'm fairly good about not tossing my phone numbers around and getting junk txt messages, usually. When I registered with the health department to get the 'rona vaccine, didn't think anything about signing up my number for updates. Over the last few months, I've received numerous updates on age requirements, vaccination sights, etc, no problem.

I got this message this txt message morning...

Message by ‪(831) 287-4509‬: You have a secure message in your Indiana Department of Workforce Development account portal https://b3v.me/DWD, Friday, June 25 2021, 5:42 AM

You have a secure message in your Indiana Department of Workforce Development account portal https://b3v.me/DWD
‪(831) 287-4509‬ • 5:42 AM

Might have fallen for it, had I not seen the news reported about the scam recently.

Fraud Notices and Protection

www.in.gov

Scammers target Hoosiers with fake unemployment text messages with links to steal data

Scammers are asking Hoosiers to verify their identities by clicking a link on messages texted to phones. Doing so may expose personal data.

www.indystar.com

This is what to do if you fall victim to an unemployment scam

As the number of scams and phishing attacks that target people's identities become more frequent, infrastructure to respond is lagging behind.

www.indystar.com

Text messages warning of unemployment fraud are really trying to rip you off, officials say

If you get a text message warning you about fraudulent unemployment benefits, it's a scam

www.wrtv.com

 

[1nderbeard]

As a general rule of thumb, no government agency will ever ask you for anything over the phone. They're all 20 years behind the times in terms of mailing everything. This is especially true with unemployment. I know of at least 3 businesses that have been hit with fraudulent unemployment scams. 2 of the 3 owners actually received notice that they had personally filed for benefits. Unemployment has massive fraud problems, thanks to the fed's increase in benefits.
I deal with this a lot as a CPA; I've only had one particularly naïve client that bought a bunch of gift cards to pay the "IRS" that called him one evening.

 

[JettaKnight]

As a general rule of thumb, no government agency will ever ask you for anything over the phone. They're all 20 years behind the times in terms of mailing everything. This is especially true with unemployment. I know of at least 3 businesses that have been hit with fraudulent unemployment scams. 2 of the 3 owners actually received notice that they had personally filed for benefits. Unemployment has massive fraud problems, thanks to the fed's increase in benefits.
I deal with this a lot as a CPA; I've only had one particularly naïve client that bought a bunch of gift cards to pay the "IRS" that called him one evening.

So, so many involve gift cards. You'd think someone might stop and ask, "what is the IRS going to do with gift cards?"

 

[1nderbeard]

So, so many involve gift cards. You'd think someone might stop and ask, "what is the IRS going to do with gift cards?"

Yeah. I couldn't believe this guy could be so dumb.

 

[jamil]

I'm fairly good about not tossing my phone numbers around and getting junk txt messages, usually. When I registered with the health department to get the 'rona vaccine, didn't think anything about signing up my number for updates. Over the last few months, I've received numerous updates on age requirements, vaccination sights, etc, no problem.

I got this message this txt message morning...

Message by ‪(831) 287-4509‬: You have a secure message in your Indiana Department of Workforce Development account portal https://b3v.me/DWD, Friday, June 25 2021, 5:42 AM

You have a secure message in your Indiana Department of Workforce Development account portal https://b3v.me/DWD
‪(831) 287-4509‬ • 5:42 AM

Might have fallen for it, had I not seen the news reported about the scam recently.

Fraud Notices and Protection

www.in.gov

Scammers target Hoosiers with fake unemployment text messages with links to steal data

Scammers are asking Hoosiers to verify their identities by clicking a link on messages texted to phones. Doing so may expose personal data.

www.indystar.com

This is what to do if you fall victim to an unemployment scam

As the number of scams and phishing attacks that target people's identities become more frequent, infrastructure to respond is lagging behind.

www.indystar.com

Text messages warning of unemployment fraud are really trying to rip you off, officials say

If you get a text message warning you about fraudulent unemployment benefits, it's a scam

www.wrtv.com

Do you suspect that they sold your number to a list?

 

[Hatin Since 87]

So, so many involve gift cards. You'd think someone might stop and ask, "what is the IRS going to do with gift cards?"

So I shouldn’t take $250 out of my account to pay them to mail my $20,000 check?


Guess I better tell the car dealership I’ve changed my mind

 

[KittySlayer]

As a general rule of thumb, no government agency will ever ask you for anything over the phone. They're all 20 years behind the times in terms of mailing everything. This is especially true with unemployment. I know of at least 3 businesses that have been hit with fraudulent unemployment scams. 2 of the 3 owners actually received notice that they had personally filed for benefits. Unemployment has massive fraud problems, thanks to the fed's increase in benefits.

Had the same issue with two owners at my business who had claims filed on their behalf.

 

[rhamersley]

So I shouldn’t take $250 out of my account to pay them to mail my $20,000 check?


Guess I better tell the car dealership I’ve changed my mind

 

[Expat]

So, so many involve gift cards. You'd think someone might stop and ask, "what is the IRS going to do with gift cards?"

Man ain't that the truth. I bought Macy's gift cards for Christmas. The Macy's employee asked me why and needed the full story before she would sell them to me. Then my credit card company blocked the transaction and I had to call to get it to go through.

 

[Bill2905]

I got a text message last month informing me that my Indiana unemployment claim was awaiting further information. The main problem there was that I never filed for unemployment. There was a link in the message for you to provide the needed information. I thought someone had filed a false claim using my identity but did some quick research and learned that it was just a text scam that has been going around for a while.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

My wife and I both get them as well. It's just scammers blasting to every possible Indiana number, same as the foreigners who call about a problem with your Amazon account, your car's extended warranty, etc. Nobody is giving them your number, a computer is just dialing every combination, seeing which ones are real, then repeatedly blasting away at them.

You can actually buy Excel spreadsheets online of known good numbers to plug in to your dialer.

The sneakiest one I'm aware of was one that pretended to be from Mariott hotels as an advertisement, and it said "press 1 to be removed from this call list." It wasn't Mariott and by pressing 1 you were telling the computer it was a good number and you'd answer. That got you on the list.

 

[jamil]

It’s best just not to answer at all. Of reply to text messages. As tempting as it is to reply back telling them “**** you”, you’re only confirming that it’s a number that belings to a real person, and then your number gets put on a list of good numbers that gets sold to telemarketers.

Do not call lists aren’t really all all that effective anymore. With voip these callers can be anywhere in the world.

 

[rhamersley]

It’s best just not to answer at all. Of reply to text messages. As tempting as it is to reply back telling them “**** you”, you’re only confirming that it’s a number that belings to a real person, and then your number gets put on a list of good numbers that gets sold to telemarketers.

Do not call lists aren’t really all all that effective anymore. With voip these callers can be anywhere in the world.

I get one of those “I want to buy your house” texts about every two weeks. Don’t answer, but they never give up.

 

[jamil]

I get one of those “I want to buy your house” texts about every two weeks. Don’t answer, but they never give up.

If phones were really smart they’d have a button that blows up spammers.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

If phones were really smart they’d have a button that blows up spammers.

I used to wish for a similar feature when everyone still had landlines. Something we could push to send a high voltage shock to the caller.

 

[Oldschool1911s]

I got a text message last month informing me that my Indiana unemployment claim was awaiting further information. The main problem there was that I never filed for unemployment. There was a link in the message for you to provide the needed information. I thought someone had filed a false claim using my identity but did some quick research and learned that it was just a text scam that has been going around for a while.

I also have had several of those texts.

 

[gregr]

I used to wish for a similar feature when everyone still had landlines. Something we could push to send a high voltage shock to the caller.

I`ve always thought I`d get one of those can air horns and as they start their scam script just blast that through the mouthpiece.