Don’t fall for the ‘free gift’ text message scam

Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offer tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.

Every few months, a new scam pops up that seems to be everywhere. Remember the “Can you hear me” scam or the this wrong number con?  A new version is here! In the past few weeks, BBB.org/ScamTracker has received numerous reports of a text message scam that attempts to trick people with the promise of a “gift.”

How the ‘free gift’ scam works

You receive a text message that says something like this: “Your bill is paid for March. Thanks, here’s a little gift for you.” This message is followed by a link to an unfamiliar website. The text doesn’t specify what bill you paid, what company the message is coming from, or what the total amount was. Even more disturbing, the message may be a group text sent to a dozen or more other people, none of whom are in your contacts list.