Text scams get weird, annoying | Scam of the Week – Chico Enterprise-Record
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CHICO — Have you ever received a strange text message or email that doesn’t make sense, or perhaps feels like it was meant for someone else?
Last week one of my coworkers forwarded me a strange message he got asking when someone named Evelyn had time to travel to New York for a party and the other. The message went on to request that a secretary arrange a time for pick up at the airport.
The message feels a bit jumbled and doesn’t read as though it’s a real person speaking.
I myself have been receiving simple messages saying “hey” or “hello” about once every two weeks or so. Initially, I would let them know they had the wrong number or ask who was texting me. The same thing happens every time. The person says they are looking for someone else and apologizes, sometimes profusely.
Then, regardless of whether I message back or not after that, they try to continue the conversation with me, calling us “acquaintances of fate.” Surprise, surprise, they were never looking for someone else, it was always about the number they sent the text to. From there, they will ask about social media information like Instagram or Snapchat to continue the conversation elsewhere.
If you’re me and used to this, you continuously respond with onion emojis until they stop texting back, but to someone unaware of scams like this, you might go along for the ride.
The scammer’s goal is to get as much information about you as possible and gain access to pictures of you to use on other scams.
If the person sending you the message can’t verify that they are someone you know, ideally via phone call, then they’re trying to get your info. It’s OK to ignore these texts and emails.
Scam of the Week generally runs every Tuesday. Readers are welcome to contact reporter Jake Hutchison to report scams and potential scams they have come in contact with by calling 828-1329 or via email at jhutchison@chicoer.com.
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