It’s not enough that scammers contact you via telephone and emails. Now they’re texting you. Once again, it’s a scam, so be aware. Like all scams, it starts off innocently.
You get a text message from an unknown number that simply says: Hi, how are you? It sure seems harmless.
Your first instinct might be to respond to see if it’s someone you know. Or maybe tell them they made a mistake.
But it’s best to ignore these type of text messages. The bad guys are using this tactic as a conversation starter, so don’t text back. Let me be clear: It is never rude or impolite to ignore and delete text messages from strangers
Here’s what probably happens if you respond – regardless of what you texted: The scammer on the other end will probably apologize…and find a way to keep the conversation going to befriend you.
Then, once they have your trust, they’ll try to offer you advice on investing in cryptocurrency or claim they can teach you the secrets to making big money in the crypto markets. For a fee, of course. But it’s all a scam and they’ll just steal your money.
Even if you just reply to the text but don’t engage in conversation, you’ve confirmed they reached a working telephone number. Which could lead to more calls and texts from scammers.
What’s the best way to avoid scams if you’re getting messages from numbers you don’t recognize? Don’t reply to text messages from unknown numbers.
Believe me, if it’s from Cousin Martha or legit, they’ll call you.
So what should Vegas Voice readers do when Mr. (or Ms.) Bad Guy contacts you? It really is easy.
Take a breath, think, and don’t hesitate to DELETE that text or email. And if you receive that telephone call, hang up the phone, hang up the phone and…HANG UP THE PHONE!
Don’t give these SOBs a moment of your time. You’re better than all of them.
