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A recent wave of text messages telling recipients they have been selected for a new military draft has been debunked by the US Army.
Texting is yet another tactic being used by savvy scammers to dupe consumers into providing personal information, and they are good at selecting their targets. Recent research has shown that 18-34 year olds are most susceptible to scams -- the same age window used for draft eligibility. Scammers can use personal information to commit identity theft, accessing your financial, medical or social media accounts or opening new accounts in your name.
The US Army Recruiting Command took to Twitter on Jan. 3 to set the record straight, warning that any "texts, phone calls, or direct messages about a military draft" are "not real at all" (CBS News).
The Selective Service System also chimed in, tweeting that it is "conducting business as usual." Any reinstatement of the draft would require official legislation by Congress and the President, the Selective Service explained.
The FCC offers the following advice to help consumers avoid unwanted texts:
- Do not respond to unwanted texts. A response lets the sender know that your phone number is active and may result in further unwanted texts.
- Check with your wireless provider about possible options for blocking unwanted texts.
- Never give out personal information in response to an unexpected text.
- Use caution if you are being threatened or pressured to provide information immediately.
- If you get a text request from someone who says they represent a government agency or a company you do business with, do not respond to the text or click on any links within the text. Instead, call the phone number on your account statement or on their official website to verify the authenticity of the request.
For more about unwanted texts and unwanted calls, visit our consumer guide.
You may also file a complaint with the FCC if you receive an unwanted commercial text message sent to your mobile phone.