Did you get a text from yourself promising a ‘gift’? Don’t click on it, Verizon warns
Verizon users have been startled to receive a suspicious text promising them a free “gift” — and seemingly from their own cell phone number.
“Free MSG: Your bill is paid for March. Thanks, here’s a little gift for you,” reads the eerie message popping up on Verizon users’ screens from supposedly their own phone number.
Screenshots of the text message have been posted by the dozens on Twitter, where Verizon Support specialists have been replying to many customers.
The texts appear to have begun cropping up around March 27, when the flood of concerned tweets and messages began rolling in.
Verizon urges users to not reply or click the link accompanying the message.
“Definitely avoid clicking on any links from these spam texts. Please also forward it to us at S-P-A-M (7726). This way, we can investigate the spam text for you,” advised one Verizon specialist, replying to a confused user.
Other specialists deemed these texts to be a “spoofed message of some kind,” meaning the text was meant to look like it was from a trusted source.
The link promising a gift appeared to lead to a Russian news network, according to a report from The Verge.
The wireless company released a statement regarding the widespread spoofing message and blamed “bad actors” for the texts.
“Verizon is aware that bad actors are sending spam text messages to some customers which appear to come from the customers’ own number,” Verizon spokesperson Rich Young told The Verge on March 29. “Our team is actively working to block these messages, and we have engaged with US law enforcement to identify and stop the source of this fraudulent activity. Verizon continues to work on behalf of the customer to prevent spam texts and related activity.”
Still, some users are concerned about how to make the texts stop from their own number.
“We can’t block ourselves,” wrote one frustrated customer on the company’s community page. “What’s the solution Verizon?”
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Did you get a text from yourself promising a ‘gift’? Don’t click on it, Verizon warns."
