Staci S. lives in Indiana, and one day she got a text message containing a picture of a bottle of wine.
She didn’t think anything of it at first since she enjoys wine.
“It definitely made me pause when I saw it because it could have totally been a text message from a friend wanting to show me a bottle they had most recently purchased,” said Staci.
Soon, Staci received two more texts from two different numbers with more pictures of wine.
“I thought ‘This is not right. So, I Googled the number and found a thread on a message board that said “wine text scam.”
When Staci tried to call the number that had texted her the picture of the wine bottle the voicemail said, “We could not complete your call, please try again.”
Which means, the scammers were likely texting Staci through a robocall system and not from an actual number.
According to the Better Business Bureau Staci, is one of many people being targeted with a new type of scam.
It’s commonly called the “wrong number scam,” because in most instances, the person receiving the picture responds with “wrong number.”
Then, when you respond to the text, the hacker on the other end will try to strike up a conversation.
It’s the same trick hackers have been using for years, but the picture in the text adds a new twist to make it appear more like someone is sending a real text.
According to one person, “They’re trying to catch you off guard, let down your defenses. If you think it’s someone you might know, you don’t want to be rude and not say anything and you want to see who it is.”
The hackers are after your money or identity.
And once you respond, you tell the scammer it’s a good phone number, you are a live target, and you are willing to engage with them.
There have been reports of scammers sending pictures of everything from beaches to puppies to wine.
Americans receive over 400 million spam texts per day, so the chances are good that you could receive one of these spam text that includes a picture.
So, here is what to do if you get a text with a picture in it from a strange number:
Personalized:
Just because a text message appears like it contains a personalized photo or message don’t automatically trust it.
If you don’t know the number, assume it’s a scam.
And definitely do NOT respond or click on the picture.
Links:
Oftentimes the text picture will include a link.
For instance, if you receive a picture of wine and there is a link, you may assume it takes you to the website selling the wine.
It would make sense for a friend to text a picture of an item with the link if they want to show you something they are buying.
But don’t click on any link in a text message unless you are 100% sure it’s from a trusted contact.
Google the number:
If you are unsure about the text picture you should do an internet search of the phone number.
This will usually tell you if it’s a scam because people report Robotech phone numbers.
Also, if it’s a legitimate friend texting you, then their name may pop up in an online search.
So, take the time to do a little digging.
Don’t have a conversation:
The hackers who send these picture text messages want the person to engage and are hoping for conversation.
So, again, no matter what, don’t respond to the text picture.
Instead, delete the text and report it as spam.
If it is legitimately someone you know will likely call you or get a hold of you some way.
Hackers are always looking for new ways to trick their victims.
Getting a picture of something you’re actually interested in is tempting to open or click on.
But at the end of the day, engaging with a message from a number you don’t know is simply not worth the risk.
