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Verizon customers have recently reported receiving spam texts that appeared to be sent from their own numbers. Some of the messages included links that reportedly redirected to websites of Russian news outlets. The company said it has launched an investigation on the issue but found no links yet to a Russian cyberattack.
The major carrier confirmed that it sought help from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Secret Service for the investigation. But Verizon spokesperson Rich Young told the New York Times that they found no evidence that the spam texts were sent from Russia.
Verizon also confirmed they were able to block one of the numbers used for the wave of spam texts. But the company says the source of the messages has been using other numbers to carry out the spamming activity. The Times was also told that the incident has affected “several thousand” customers.
Several customers on Reddit and Twitter confirmed they have received similar texts. Many have suspected that the culprits spoofed their Verizon numbers, making it seem like the message was sent by their own mobile numbers. Most of the reported messages tell affected customers that they have paid their recent bill, so they would be receiving “a little gift.” The texts include a URL, where potential phishing victims could have their credit card information stolen.
The Verge’s Chris Welch, who received a similar text, reported earlier this week that the URL attached to the spam text he got brought him to a Russian state-affiliated TV network. This follows an official warning from the US government last week, advising companies of potential Russian cyberattacks based on “evolving intelligence” amid the invasion of Ukraine. But Verizon also told the publication that it has yet to find indications that the source of the spam texts has ties with Russia.
In any case, customers are advised to never open a link attached in text messages from an unknown or suspicious number. “Our team is actively working to block these messages, and we have engaged with US law enforcement to identify and stop the source of this fraudulent activity,” Young said. “Verizon continues to work on behalf of the customer to prevent spam texts and related activity.”
Photo by Leon Bredella on Unsplash
