![]() ![]() You can help eliminate spam messages and robotexts by filtering out spam on your mobile device.įiltering out spam on an iPhone is simple. It’s so obscure you probably never thought of it. If you receive unwanted commercial text messages, file a complaint using the FTC complaint assistant. The only two exceptions to this law are transactional or relationship type messages, or non-commercial messages such as political surveys or fundraising messages. Best ways to keep our phone, apps organized.Your smartphone got wet? Here's what NOT to do first.Here's how to boost your iPhone's signal strength.5 ways to block or hide your number when making calls.This is where robocalls are coming from.You didn’t do it. Many telemarketing firms rely on automatic dialing devices that are capable of discovering and dialing all landline and cellphone numbers, including those that are unlisted. Whatever the reason, you willingly hand over your cell number, and that allows for your number to end up in the wrong hands. You fill out a sign-up form, contest entry, or enroll in an in-store rewards program. You did it. There many valid reasons that you’d give your number to companies. In addition to identifying and storing your number, the ANI system can match it with other digital data associated with you. ( Learn more about charity scams.)įor more information about scam calls and texts, visit the FCC Consumer Help Center and the FCC Scam Glossary.įile coronavirus scam complaints online with the Federal Trade Commission.You called an 800, 888 or 900 number. When you call phone numbers with these prefixes, your cellphone number is collected by an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) system. Always check on a charity (for example, by calling or looking at its actual website) before donating.If a friend sends you a text with a suspicious link that seems out of character, call them to make sure they weren't hacked. Do not click any links in a text message.Remember that government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money. Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering or responding.Be cautious if you're being pressured to share any information or make a payment immediately.Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages, or over the phone.Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown numbers, or any others that appear suspicious.The FCC offers the following tips to help you protect yourself from scams, including coronavirus scams: If you think you've been a victim of a coronavirus scam, contact law enforcement immediately. The scammer claims you qualify for financial assistance but must verify your personal information to "register" you for the program. In this con, someone pretends to represent the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program, preying on grieving families. The Better Business Bureau is warning of a text message scam misrepresenting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The text is likely a phishing attempt to get banking or other personal information from its victims. The FCC learned of a text scam claiming to be from the "FCC Financial Care Center" and falsely offering $30,000 in COVID-19 relief. The IRS isn't the only government agency being impersonated. It also requests a debit or credit card number to "verify your identity." One such scam text begins with "IRS COVID-19 News" and includes a link and instructions for recipients "to register/update your information in order to receive the economic impact payment regardless of your status." The link points to a website designed to look like the IRS's and requests identifying information, including date of birth, social security number and filing status. The IRS's "Dirty Dozen" scam list for 2021 urges consumers to look out for the red flags of a scam, such as ".any text messages, random incoming phone calls or emails inquiring about bank account information or requesting recipients to click a link or verify data.". It was a phony survey and there was no reward. People reported getting emails and text messages asking them to complete a limited-time survey about the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine in exchange for a "free reward," for which they were asked to pay shipping fees. The FTC posted an alert about a COVID-19 vaccines scam survey. COVID-19 text message scams offer cures, warnings about the need for a test, or "special offers." Do NOT click on links in texts related to the virus, and check cdc.gov/coronavirus for the most current information.Īccording to the Federal Trade Commission's annual Consumer Sentinel Network report, consumers lost approximately $86 million dollars in 2020 as a result of scam texts. Scammers can use links in text messages to install malicious code on your phone or launch a phony webpage to collect personal, health insurance, or financial information for use in other scams. ![]()
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