Ask Asa: Text Message Scammers Pose As Friends In Need
Warning: If Someone Named 'Sara' Asks You To Respond Think It Through
- CBS, New York June 11th, 2012
- Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/06/11/ask-asa-text-message-scammers-pose-as-friends-in-need/
NEW YORK (CBS 2) — Thieves disguised as friends in need of urgent help are sending out text messages that could help them steal your personal identity and your money.
People around the country have received text messages from a “person” named Sara, asking “are you going to call or what?” Those who responded were connected to strangers.
Experts told CBS 2′s Asa Aarons that the number originates from Rhode Island. If you return the call, it could be costly.
“Basically they are trying to trick you into sending SMS messages to numbers that have charges, so money will trickle back to them,” explained Justin Cappos, a professor of computer science & engineering at NYU-Poly.
