TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians of a new scam that swindlers are using to swipe the personal information of consumers via text message.
Scammers are now posing as companies and offering consumers free gift cards as an award for paying their bills on time. The scam, which is deployed over text message, provides consumers with a link and forwards them to a website where they are prompted to enter their personal information.
Gift cards, though, are never delivered and swindlers use the scam to steal a consumer’s personal data.
“Scammers will try anything to steal your personal information. Their latest trick is simple, but effective — the promise of a gift in exchange for personal information,” Moody said Thursday in a statement. “Don’t fall for it.”
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Floridians can follow several tips to prevent themselves from falling victim to a scam. Moody said Floridians should never click on link delivered by an unknown sender. Consumers should also avoid sending personal or financial information in an unsolicited text.
“Remember that if something seems too good to be true, then it’s probably a scam,” Moody said.
Moody added that Floridians can double check a company’s phone number on their official website….
