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How to Prevent the 410 Area Code Text Spam
Receiving spam texts can be really irritating, unless you’ve actually been the victim of a spam text scam.
Unfortunately, text fraud is on the rise, which puts us all at a higher risk of being duped and necessitates the need for more security.
A text scam that has been on the rise for the past few years has now become more unsafe. Its typical quality is a “410” area code. We can render guidance if you’ve gotten a unusual message from a number of this kind and want to know what to do in such a situation.
Recognizing spam messages’ techniques
Customers of U.S. phone carriers receive an increasing number of SMS spam. Though some of it might originate from advertisers that have your phone number on a mailing list, others are more likely to have obtained it from a data broker.
However, more spam continues to emerge from con artists attempting to acquire personal information. They distribute spam in an effort to trick the victim into disclosing private information. It could be information as straightforward as a home address or as important as a social security number.
One of the most prevalent characteristics of spam texts is:
Verify your account, a text message that asks you to contact a phone number to validate your information and claims to be from your “bank.”
The notification “Card is blocked” instructs you to click a link in order to “unblock” your “frozen” bank or financial accounts.
“Delayed delivery” is a notice that instructs you to click a link in order to reschedule a delivery that was supposed to be made to your home address.
Recognizing Text Spam
Most text message scams have a highly official appearance and are designed to seem as though they are coming from a reliable source, are about a trustworthy company, or include links that you are familiar with.
In addition to the characteristics mentioned above, there are a number of other characteristics that make spam text scams easy to spot.
Suspicious numbers – You should exercise caution when receiving text messages from any phone number that you are unfamiliar with.
A sense of urgency could be a hint that a scammer doesn’t want you to think before clicking a link if a text mentions a “time restriction” or “expiration” on an offer or prize.
Spelling mistakes are a major red flag because any trustworthy source sending an official text message will likely ensure that all of the material is accurate.
Unusual links – Scammers are increasingly hiding harmful links in text messages to make them seem legitimate, thus it is advised to avoid doing so at all costs.
The fact that this particular hoax is being transmitted from a phone number with the area code “410” is obviously the biggest giveaway. While a substantial portion of Baltimore’s metropolitan region is covered by that, scammers are simply masking their genuine phone number origin by utilizing the area code.
The fact that SMS with the 410 area code are spreading and are in fact frauds is widely known among U.S. phone operators. The problem, of course, is that even if you block a certain 410 number on your phone, con artists can use another 410 number to get around the ban.
You might be curious as to why scammers in particular choose the 410 area code. Actually, con artists are known to employ a variety of area codes, frequently attempting to pass themselves off as a reputable organization such as the IRS or FBI based on branch or headquarters locations.
What to do if Progressive continues to send promotional materials
The most crucial rule to keep in mind is to never reply to a text message that makes you uneasy. Never respond to it, follow its instructions, or open any of the links it contains. In fact, we suggest that you ignore the text entirely.
Call the company to speak with their privacy and security team, for instance, if a spam text appears to be from a known company. They ought to be able to inform you whether the text is authentic or not. If not, your report assists in letting them know that they are being victimized by fraud.
How to stop spam text messages
Turn on the built-in filters on your phone to stop receiving spam SMS. This will add an additional layer of defence against telemarketer calls and messages.
Go to Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders on an iPhone.
Go to Settings > Spam Protection > Enable Spam Protection on Android phones.
Also, download the spam-monitoring apps offered by your cell carrier. Typically, each carrier has a free or paid membership available through their website or app store.
A third-party program that can assist in further screening and blocking spam texts is also available for download. There are numerous options available.
For a complete overview of all your options, read our guide on How to Stop Spam Text Messages from Group.
Why do you initially receive 410 spam texts?
As was already mentioned, data brokers play a significant role in the compromise of personal information. There are hundreds of them operating covertly in our nation alone, gathering private information online and selling it to those who would pay the greatest price.
The information could then be sold to marketers, which is how your home address appears on mailing lists so frequently, but it could also occasionally end up in the wrong hands. This increases your vulnerability to identity theft, text and phone scams, junk mail, and spam.
How to deal with 410 spam texts
Although the method used by data brokers to collect your information is legal—which is unsettling, to say the least—spam texts are nonetheless subject to restrictions under the law.
In fact, unless a client has specifically agreed to receive such warnings, it is unlawful to send spam or commercial messages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Furthermore, using autodialers—devices that make robocalls and spam—is illegal.
As a result, you have the right to file a lawsuit against anyone who violates this.
Despite this, con artists most likely aren’t concerned about the legal repercussions of their actions.
You must remove your information from data-broker websites if you want to permanently deter crooks. You close a significant hole in your internet data by doing this.
Taking on this problem alone isn’t impossible, but it is difficult and time-consuming. Every data-broker site needs to be handled separately, and sometimes it seems impossible to even know where to begin.
Fortunately, you may get data broker removal services that will take care of everything.
The nation’s top provider of data-broker opt outs is DeleteMyInfo. Our privacy staff will scan all the major data-broker websites, complete all opt-out requests, and repeat these checks every three months to make sure your information never gets relisted for as low as $9.99 a month.
Find out how we can help you eliminate spam messages for good by speaking with one of DeleteMyInfo’s privacy consultants right away.
DeleteMyInfo.com offers a very budget-friendly plan to delete you from Google and remove you from over 150+ data brokers that exposes your personal information. If you want to know about our plans and promotions, click here, or you may also call us at (855)-959-0311 or visit us at our office located at 3000 Gulf to Bay Blvd Suite 205, Clearwater, FL 33765.