General Discussion

erronis

(25,279 posts)

29. This scam isn't dependent on the operating system. Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, whatever.

Sat Jul 11, 2026, 04:28 PM

Saturday

They aren't trying to take over your machine, PC, Mac, laptop, phone. They want access to your authentication tokens (login, password, multi-factor text message, etc.) and from there they can start to raid your online accounts. They usually already have enough information on you personally (name, address, phone#s, emails, sometimes SSN) so just a little more info from you directly can help them close the loops.

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PatSeg

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Highlight:

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

Wow, that is scary hauckeye Saturday #1

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

well, that was horrifying UpInArms Saturday #3

"Windows 7"??? PatSeg Saturday #10

windows 7-11. LOL reACTIONary Saturday #16

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

Whoa, I didn't know you could still get updates PatSeg Saturday #41

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

This is the key: Never take an inbound call from a financial company. Ms. Toad Saturday #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 Saturday #6

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

Good advice Randomthought Saturday #14

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

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

I'm not quite sure I follow the logic on this piece AZJonnie Saturday #25

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

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

The store may be in on it. Ms. Toad Sunday #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 Sunday #46

Did you read the article? BWdem4life Saturday #20

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

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

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

I have an Apple ID Bev54 Saturday #8

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

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

Good Info, thanks for posting BunnyMcGee Saturday #13

Kick dalton99a Saturday #15

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

Thanks for the head's up xuplate Saturday #19

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great info in this thread, thanks erronis and replies.. Permanut Saturday #26

Just had a discussion with my kids about this NeoTrajan Saturday #27

Excellent ideas. Thank you. erronis Saturday #34

That's basically what I told my husband Tree Lady Saturday #40

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

Things I never do in this age of thievery. GoodRaisin Saturday #35

I wish I knew what was meant by this part of the article AZJonnie Saturday #36

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

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

This is exactly what happened to us in Oct 2025. LtTx Saturday #39