SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Text Message Scam Warning
A Scam Alert from SCARS
You Are All Familiar With Annoying Spam Text Messages!
We Hate Them Don’t We!
You get messages at all hours, day and night, about insurance, buying used cars, car warranties, and anything else spammers think they can sell you.
Plus countless businesses that you know and do business with now use text messages as a way to keep you informed of your orders and shipping. These have proven very popular but also reduce costs for these businesses, and that helps you save money too.
It is truly annoying and disrupts your life!
Some Are Dangerous!
Except that not all text messages are innocent or just annoying, many are scams. And these scams come in many different forms.
The typical types of Scam Text Messages include:
- Phishing messages asking for your personal information
- Malware lures that want you to click on a link that will infect your device
- Regular monetary scams – from lotto & sweepstakes to vacations to travel, all you have to do is pay a small amount to get the item of value
But now we are seeing an old-school style of scamming return (if it ever went away at all.)
“STOP” SCAMS
Some of these scam texts are what are called “Stop Scams”
Sometimes, when you call or text certain numbers there can secretly be extra charges for that. These days, your phone provider is probably warning you that it might happen but most people do not listen – especially because it never tells you what that additional charge might be.
IT WORKS LIKE THIS:
- You get a text from someone and it usually says it comes from a short number instead of a regular phone number
- The message is offering something that you don’t want or it could be from a company you know
- It says that if you want these texts to stop you should type STOP in a reply message
- If you do that it will charge to your phone bill an extra (unknown) amount – it could be a few dollars or hundreds
- It is that simple
DO THIS INSTEAD
Instead of replying to the message, report them to your carrier. Your photo provider probably offers spam filtering apps. By downloading your carried’s call blocker/filter app you can block them and report them to the phone service provider.
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ARTICLE META
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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