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BWdem4life

(3,181 posts)

20. Did you read the article?

Reply to AZJonnie (Reply #6)

Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:00 PM

Yesterday

That’s exactly how it started, with a simple “no” reply to a text asking to verify a credit card purchase.

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Ponietz

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Highlight:

How a Stranger Used One Text Message to Steal My Entire Digital Life -- Time [View all] erronis Yesterday OP

Wow, that is scary hauckeye Yesterday #1

I find people are more vulnerable when they are scammed on mobile devices. LeftInTX Yesterday #2

well, that was horrifying UpInArms Yesterday #3

"Windows 7"??? PatSeg Yesterday #10

windows 7-11. LOL reACTIONary Yesterday #16

I still have a Windows 7 computer also FoxNewsSucks Yesterday #22

Whoa, I didn't know you could still get updates PatSeg 20 hrs ago #41

This scam isn't dependent on the operating system. Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, whatever. erronis 22 hrs ago #29

This is the key: Never take an inbound call from a financial company. Ms. Toad Yesterday #4

So if you are traveling and spend a decent amount of $ at a city far from where you are 99% of the time AZJonnie Yesterday #6

My Credit Union asks me to call them directly whenever I get a fraud alert. paleotn Yesterday #11

Good advice Randomthought Yesterday #14

Right. And don't click on any links in the text message (or emails!) erronis 22 hrs ago #31

Yes, I would (and have repeatedly refused). Ms. Toad Yesterday #17

I'm not quite sure I follow the logic on this piece AZJonnie 23 hrs ago #25

And how do you know they did not call the 5, be 10, ?? other phones that were in the area Ms. Toad 19 hrs ago #42

How did they fake the credit card terminal coming back and saying "declined"? AZJonnie 11 hrs ago #44

The store may be in on it. Ms. Toad 7 hrs ago #45

No, because only if you respond to a text in the scenario I described with a 'no' I didn't make the charge AZJonnie 2 hrs ago #46

Did you read the article? BWdem4life Yesterday #20

They've got the con down pat. Progressive dog Yesterday #5

Oh wow, that poor Pilot guy! Cha Yesterday #7

"To catch a thief" - Hitchcock. We don't live in that world any more. There are thousands of thieves erronis 22 hrs ago #32

I have an Apple ID Bev54 Yesterday #8

My daughter and I were talking about our smartphones PatSeg Yesterday #9

I never reply to text of that ilk. BeneteauBum Yesterday #12

Good Info, thanks for posting BunnyMcGee Yesterday #13

Kick dalton99a Yesterday #15

This is why I love my old flip-phone JoseBalow Yesterday #18

Thanks for the head's up xuplate Yesterday #19

This exploit was from 4 years ago. Sector 001 Yesterday #21

As if in a nuclear event access to Apple products is essential. marble falls 22 hrs ago #30

I, too, have been getting suspicous calls and texts. Dem_in_Nebr. 23 hrs ago #23

I had an episode not this serious but enough for me three years ago. I dealt with it and even hlthe2b 23 hrs ago #24

I recommend running a VPN on your phone for all WiFi connections - even on a protected network. erronis 22 hrs ago #33

Yes... I have preached that for the past 18 months... Not all listen, however... hlthe2b 21 hrs ago #38

Great info in this thread, thanks erronis and replies.. Permanut 23 hrs ago #26

Just had a discussion with my kids about this NeoTrajan 22 hrs ago #27

Excellent ideas. Thank you. erronis 22 hrs ago #34

That's basically what I told my husband Tree Lady 20 hrs ago #40

Trust no one whose throat you cannot get your hands around. marble falls 22 hrs ago #28

Things I never do in this age of thievery. GoodRaisin 22 hrs ago #35

I wish I knew what was meant by this part of the article AZJonnie 21 hrs ago #36

That mystified me also, but you worded it well. It does seem something is missing. erronis 21 hrs ago #37

I think what they're referring to (and like you, I struggled getting through the article) Abolishinist 19 hrs ago #43

This is exactly what happened to us in Oct 2025. LtTx 20 hrs ago #39