Verizon users are reportedly getting text messages from their own phone numbers, according to The Verge report. Said messages look like a payment confirmation from the carrier, prompting the recipient to follow a link for a free prize. Mind you, this is NOT an official communication from Verizon and you should NOT follow the link in the message.
“Verizon is aware that bad actors are sending spam text messages to some customers which appear to come from the customers’ own number,” a Verizon spokesperson told Android Central. “Our team is actively working to block these messages, and we have engaged with U.S. law enforcement to identify and stop the source of this fraudulent activity. We continue to work on behalf of our customers to prevent spam texts and related activity.”
Beyond Verizon, users on its subsidiary Visible are also receiving the same message. Here too, they are advised not to click the link as there is no any kind of prize they will win.
The mentioned link is said to lead to Channel One Russia, which is a Russian state media network. However, Verizon said that it had no indication the activity was originating from Russia. They do believe that the activity is being generated by “external bad actors” with no direct tie to the company.
Nevertheless, as users on other carriers don’t have a similar problem, we have to wonder whether this spam is a result of Verizon’s network breach. They say it isn’t, but they would say that either way.
Anyhow, if you want to fight back, you can forward this and other spam messages to Verizon’s spam number 7726 from your phone. And then promptly delete it.