It is generally not ok to reply with ‘stop’ or ‘unsubscribe’ to any unexpected text messages. A response signals to fraudsters whether a user is active on that number. And replying confirms that someone has received the text. Once it is confirmed that the user is active, the cybercriminals may decide to attack the person further or sell the number to others on the Dark Web as a confirmed active cell number. A person who actively checks their text messages and responds is considered a gold mine for fraudsters — the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) strongly advises users not to engage with robocalls or texts.
Key takeaways
- The best response to fraud attempts via text messages is zero engagement – ignore, delete, block, and report.
- Validated numbers are highly valuable to aspiring scammers.
- Malicious text messages remain a serious threat to people living in the USA, as cyber criminals approach millions of people every day.
- Wireless service providers and antivirus software are helpful in the battle against unsolicited texts.
Why would fraudsters need validated cell numbers?
The hackers may decide to be more precise in targeting the person who replied. After so many data breaches and lists published by data brokers, a cell number can sometimes help fraudsters identify a person’s name, address, employer, and other personal information. Hackers can then piece it together using information from data leaks. And criminals can end up learning other things about the individuals, such as additional contact details, like email addresses, as well as sensitive information, such as social security and driver’s license numbers.
Having so much information would allow attackers to execute social engineering schemes that could defraud users. And it could all start with a simple action: replying ‘stop’ to a text message.
Are scam text messages still being actively distributed to people in the USA?
Absolutely! Fraudsters send hundreds of millions, if not billions, of text messages to Americans every day. Even though wireless operators have stepped up their game in the last few years and are continuously trying to filter such messages and prevent them from reaching their customers. Tens of millions of smartphone owners in the USA still receive at least one scam text message every single day. Those messages consist of bogus toll road charges, pig butchering scams, fake invitations, or phony ticket sales. The criminals get creative, using every possible tactic to trick cell phone users into infecting their devices. And/or getting potential victims to share login details and banking info.
What can people do instead of replying?
The less engagement potential targets have with the scammers, the better. Cybercriminals actively look for ways to identify who might be a good target, and being responsive automatically upgrades active users to potential targets. Unless a person is ready to take some heat, it is better not to engage at all – do not curse or get angry at the scammers, do not try to reason with them. Instead, avoid any communication at all costs, delete the text message, block the number, and report it as spam. If a person wants to go the extra mile and try to stop those scammers for good. Individuals are encouraged to report it to law enforcement agencies and the wireless service provider. All these actions are non-engaging and preventive, so the hackers controlling the number can’t try to strike again.
Romance scams, missed package deliveries, agency impersonations – the list of fraudulent text messages is long. Ignoring those messages and robocalls is very important for people who do not wish to deal with hackers. Bad actors often use a sense of urgency to provoke a response, but it is important not to engage. Wireless carriers, as well as antivirus software providers, have successfully limited such attempts over the years. However, the messages are still reaching millions of people. The cyber scam operations are generating billions of dollars every year for criminals who are not even located in the USA. But are targeting innocent Americans from scam farms situated on the other side of the world.