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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 won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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.

Chef50
November 25, 2020
I received this message: saying they are holding $2,000 for me, and they cant hold it much longer. when i tried to copy and paste it here, it only copy TEST. SO THEY ENCRYPT NOT TO BE ABLE TO COPY ONLINE
Chris
December 13, 2020
848-246-4919 I received a text message on my cellular phone. Her name Jessica told me that she wants to contact me by phone. She said is from ASF. I don't know what that is. I reported as SPAM
Nutshell
December 14, 2020
Received a text message from 8032371801,claiming to be FedEx and my package has been postponed,click on the link in message. I did not click it. Just sharing
He-man
December 14, 2020
What do you do if you delete/block them but they keep changing their number and texting you again?
Email text mes…
December 25, 2020
I keep getting these email text messages and they include my child’s name in them, I think that’s someone trying to hack me personally but how would they know my child’s name?
Krissy in Illinois
December 29, 2020
Been getting calls that I owe on my student loan, (mine are paid), they are also saying I was over charged on my utilities and I’m getting a refund, but they person can’t tell me my account number that’s overcharged, he then switched to my cars warranty is up, lol yah I drive a company car. I hang up and not even 5 minutes later a woman calls saying my insurance policy is due, couldn’t tell me if it was for a car or what but tried reverse psychology on me asking me what one I thought it was on, she argued with me for 20 minutes telling me I know what she is talking about and I have to have insurance. Today I got a text message saying they will meet me at 7:15 at a hotel CYA XOXO, but had a email address to click on to cancel. I blocked every number that texts or calls. If I don’t answer the calls I get 10-30 a DAY. Sometimes at 5am and I’ve gotten calls as late as 11:18pm these people are relentless.
Bradstreet2i t…
December 29, 2020
I thing I was scammed
Btflybroken!
December 31, 2020
I got a text message saying "hello" and that's it from an (812)-307-9702. Is this a scammer? I didn't know what to do so i was gonna text back and ask who it was. What do I need to do?
hmmmm
January 05, 2021
NOW THE SPAM IS ONLY AN EMAIL ADDRESS LINK...SENT IT TO VERIZON AND GOT AN AUTO RESPONSE OF PLEASE SEND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER
FedUp
January 06, 2021
I received a text from (833)-733-0671 saying my ICloud was locked and to click a link (which I did not do) to unlock it. I didn’t click the link or reply but I’m concerned and want to know if there’s anything else I can do to protect my personal information?
CHAOS
March 07, 2021
I get call’s and all they say is “ Hi, this is so n so, can you hear me alright”? Either just hang up or say something like, “ loud and clear” or “ I can” don’t EVER SAY “Yes”!! They want you to say yes so they can use your voice recording saying YES and then they hang up and use your YES at the end of any contract they want with your voice agreeing to the terms!! It’s a huge scam, So just remember no matter what they ask, find a way NOT TO SAY YES TO ANYTHING!! Thank you for listening,, good luck out there!! Stay safe
Ashleymellow87
April 01, 2021
Below is the message I got. Thank you for subscribing to HappyFeet. A $1 fee will be charged to your account daily. Remember Happy Feet = Happy life!
happenn
April 10, 2021
I received a text message from an email address tonight, on my work cell phone. This is the 3rd time it has happened in 2 weeks. They were all from Gmail accounts and the text consisted of random numbers, letters, and symbols and it's a link. I'm not stupid enough to click on those links. I can mute the conversation, but when I try to block it, that option isn't enabled for me, it's greyed out. Since this was the 3rd time and it is a work phone (I have to keep it with me at all times), I'll probably have to go to our I.T. department. It's frustrating though.
Goodluck
May 24, 2021

In reply to by happenn

I got something similar. I didn’t know it could be reported to my carrier. I just deleted the message, but this is extremely annoying. I hope you can get the problem taken care of. Good luck.
unknown
April 16, 2021
i got a random text from somebody saying "hi" "its steve". do i respond or do i leave that alone because i dont know anyone named steve
NotAWinner
April 20, 2021
Received text "great news... your unique code... printed on your receipt... came in 1st on our giveaway. Phone #971-380-0436. I couldn't find a history from that #. I had answered a survey for Dollar Tree a couple of days before. Came here to check.
Chick Norris
April 22, 2021
My husband fell for a text yesterday on his PHONE. It claimed to be from the USPS rerouting a package and to "click the link." Now he has all kinds of malware on his phone. The text looked real.
JJ49
April 22, 2021
I also receive several of these scam text messages each day. Is there something I can do to block all scam text messages such as these without having go block each one individually?
summer
June 06, 2021
I'm freaking out , me and my friend called this number cause it says it's a creppy number that the red room number and it tracks ur location and kills u in the red room . It texted me back and says "Summer ID theft is on the rise " click the link" I clicked the link and it wanted me to call them again but i did not .. I'm so scared rn help me help
Claire
June 12, 2021
Received a text saying I'd came 5th in something haven't entered anything obviously a Scam!!!
Jules_Ma_Ghouls
June 27, 2021
I got a text message that started with 798 and it said “1804black curb” and I looked up if any phone numbers started with 798. Nothing does. I’m a little confused and kinda scared. Can someone help?
jammingrammie
June 28, 2021
I just received a text from 607-800-1679 & this is copied & pasted: ALERT: Someone is trying to access your photos and contacts. Save your files before you lose all of it! fgsf9.com/Q4vXYhEJXi I did not click on the link.. I don’t know what to believe anymore. This world has gone crazy! Has anyone else received a text like this? I’ve received the ones that say you won something, but nothing like this!!
Mik
August 09, 2021
I got a text from the number: 562-527-4112 “Your package of 2 items is out for delivery. View your order with vouchers here sq2oqf.com” There’s a link at the end of the message. I have not pressed it because I am wary of it being a scam
Linda
August 16, 2021

In reply to by Mik

I got the same text (TWICE!), but with a link to rb3doc.com. I'm just going to delete it.
TonyA
August 10, 2021
My 13 yo daughter keeps getting text saying she is a winner of ATT over and over and since they are not in her contacts she can’t see the spam. There was 20 people in a group trying to get through. I had to make them all a contact to see it was a link. Then I screen shot and blocked each number and was up half the night. Ridiculous. I hope they get caught.
DrLeoh_82
August 11, 2021
Whenever I tried to copy and forward the unwanted text message received on my phone, I typed in the number provided here on the webpage and it says "no results found". Is there more to the number you type in or some other way to forward the "scam" or unwanted text?
Dor
August 20, 2021
Received a text from Unemployment never applied number is 9144272365 - should I report fraud?
Concerned citizen
August 23, 2021
I have filed many complaints on your site reporting scams. What exactly is your agency doing about it? We appreciate your advice BUT what action, if any, are you taking based on complaints filed by citizens?
John Smith
August 25, 2021
I got a text from 82061 that said they had received my payment of $30. If I want to view my account, I could click their link. I'm not clicking anything. Nice try clowns.
JT
August 31, 2021
Received a text from 866 341 0031. Spam
Sj
September 03, 2021
I received a msg on my screen just saying tik tok n a random msg underneath. I clicked on it but it disappeared. Why is this I'm worried as the msg has worried me. Thanks.
Worried Consumer
September 10, 2021
I got a text from this number (646) 707-1176 saying, RE: Refund case #5134. crystal, Your service provider has overcharged you by $231.64. They have agreed to refund you in full: fyjh9.xyz/anUgLfzzPv I did NOT click on the link.
1-(650)867-2936
September 21, 2021
AT&T Free Msg: Congrats to 2 lucky users! Today winners of the iPhone 13 draw are: Andrew Clark and you, Minjila! Claim now: r3esv.info/G1AOWJAVS5
1-(650)867-2936
September 21, 2021
Received TMtxt msg from +1( 214) 212-3409 So your doctor does not need to prescribe the most powerful brain boosting tablet in the world bbdgn.co/UQPVzi1NqX
1-(650)867-2936
September 22, 2021
+1 (347) 933-0617 Received this msg AT&T Free Msg: August bill processed. Thanks, Minjila! Here's a little something for you: p1crw.info/V73N1F2s8s
Guillaume
October 24, 2021
Received text message from 41098. "Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi shipped by US Mail...Activate upon receipt. Reply Stop to opt out" No card arrived. Obviously a scam.