The latest wacky text to make the rounds is about some Powerball jackpot that a Good Samaritan wants to give away. This Lottery Winner smishing scam should be obvious to most. I hope you don’t fall for it! This scheme is just a remix of that classic chain letter, from the Nigerian King who wants … Read more
Get ready to ignore or report any text message about an Amazon Recall. These texts are not legitimate. They are not from Amazon, but from spammers and scammers! Here are example images of the Amazon Recall Smishing Scam: If you receive anything like this, do NOT click any links or attachments in the text! There … Read more
If you’ve bought your smartphone through Verizon Wireless, then this may be relevant to you. Verizon is getting rid of their text messaging app, and pushing its users to move to another one. If you are getting notices about this on your phone, do not ignore them. You need to do this! Why is this … Read more
Please keep an eye out for any text messages, alerting you to “unpaid tolls”. While there are legitimate ways to inform you of overdue toll fees, texting is typically not one of them. If you receive the SMS message below, you’re probably looking at an Unpaid Toll Collection Scam. The FBI started seeing this scam … Read more
An Etymology & History Lesson Hacking is nothing new. In the 1970’s, we had hackers that were experts at gaming and abusing our telephone systems. They were able to avoid long-distance charges when placing calls, and those free calls may had led to them being called freaks. But soon after, those phone freaks were simply … Read more
For anyone involved in SNAP or receiving EBT funds, please be aware of the following scam: This is a text message that did NOT come from the government or any legitimate entity. It is the beginning of a scheme to steal your EBT funds. If you receive this text, do NOT call the number. Do … Read more
Here are options for dealing with spam text messages: Forward the Message to SPAM When you get a spam text, forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your carrier know about what spam is spreading where, and they’ll study the trends to prevent more spam from reaching you. To forward a message on Apple devices, … Read more
In case of an emergency, many parts of the USA support Text to 911. This technology allows you to contact 911 for help via text message (SMS). The FCC reminds everyone that you should place a voice call to 911 whenever possible. Much of the Shenandoah Valley((Warren County, VA has assured me they support this … Read more
The 2001 Anthrax Attacks led the USPS to begin scanning and tracking our postal mail. All USPS mail is photographed and/or scanned as it passes through sorting machines and sent on its way. This mass surveillance program is called Mail Isolation Control and Tracking, or MICT for short. Eventually (in 2017), the USPS decided to … Read more