CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Anyone who owns a cellphone most likely has received a text message claiming that they have won a big prize, but those messages will cost a lot more if you try to claim the cash.
Action 9 broke down what to look out for and what to do if you receive those texts.
Lesa Corpening is new to texting. "I am not text savvy, I am just learning," she said.
Recently, she received a text saying "card" and beside it a few numbers and X's.
"And it says call 407-900-2748," said Corpening.
Then Corpening called the number, a recording said her debit card has been suspended, then it asked for her bank account and her Social Security numbers.
She did not give it out and immediately called her credit union to learn others had complained too.
"They said it was a fraud, a scam that was going around," she said.
No one is immune from the texts. The phone number can be different and most likely it is outside of the United States.
"These are called smishing attacks, that are short for short message phishing," said Better Business Bureau President Tom Bartholomy.
He said these are the same scammers who sent texts out last Christmas telling consumers they had won $1,000 gift cards at Target and Walmart.
He said if you click on a link, it could wipe out your phone – or if you give them personal information, they could steal your identity.
"There is no thousand dollar gift card. There is no prize at the end of the rainbow. It is a straight up scam," said Bartholomy.
Corpening wants to tell anyone who gets these texts to not respond and to not give out any personal information.
"Once you do that. It is out there. There is nothing you can do about it," she said.
WSOC
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