The scammer asks the person to verify a code sent to their phone. While it might seem harmless, authorities say it isn’t.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Social media can be a great place to network a solution to a problem, whether it’s finding a lost pet or finding a buyer for an old piece of furniture. It’s also a place to stay vigilant for scams.
A person recently posted on Facebook about a scenario in which they found themselves, and they wanted to know if it was a scam.
They recently lost their cat and had posted about it on social media. Someone reached out via text message, saying they found the cat but wanted to verify the owner’s phone number, just to make sure the finder was not getting scammed.
All the finder needed was for the cat’s owner to verify a code sent to their phone.
The Question
Is there a documented scam involving the target verifying a code sent to their phone?
The Sources
The Answer
Yes, there is a documented scam involving the target verifying a code sent to their phone. According to a warning from the FTC, it can be an insidious threat since it…
