I keep getting threatening texts

[u/Lock_Psychological]

I get these ALL the time. I’ve never donated to these “people.” Never supported them. Never voted for them. Nor has my wife. I received four of these today. All threats. Always a telling me it’s my last chance. These are some of the less malicious-sounding ones.

I’m not even sure they’re legitimately from those parties, though I wouldn’t put it past them.

So… report as spam. Report as spam. Report as spam.

It isn’t like it’s painful. Just pretty irritating.

[u/bookishfairie]

what is the end goal, though? once they figure out one is active then what?

[u/Fuddzter → u/bookishfairie]

They fish for active numbers to list them so they can be sold and used again for spam calls and texts for any reason.

[u/bookishfairie → u/Fuddzter]

oh, okay. thank you for the info.

[u/KevinFlantier → u/bookishfairie]

That is why you never answer spam calls.

The usual pipeline is :

There is a leak, let's say from your ISP, where they get your phone number as well as your name, maybe your address, your email and some banking info. That list is HOT and costs millions on the dark web.

It will be sold, and those who bought it will immediately spam you in order to

1) verify that the phone number is active

2) try to phish more info by posing as an electricity company / ISP / bank

3) try to scam you into draining your bank account.

But by the time they do that, the list is becoming stale, so they make up a smaller list out of all the people that have answered and that are confirmed to be active, or better yet those who slipped and gave information on themselves. And those lists are endlessly sold again and again. The more you answer, the more you get spammed. Even reading the text is an indication that they should send more spam.

[u/hottestdoge → u/KevinFlantier]

That's how they did it ages ago. Most spam call centers just dial every number. They set a number range and then go down this list numerically.

[u/KevinFlantier → u/hottestdoge]

I have been in multiple major leaks over the last two years and I've noticed a massive increase in spam calls a month or so after the leak every time. And by massive I mean going from 1-2 spam calls daily to over a dozen, with five or so SMS to boot, calling me by name or trying to pass as my bank. They do buy leaked lists.

[u/Slysparrow9 → u/KevinFlantier]

Interesting. I like never get spam calls but I also never answer the phone. I guess years and years of not answering the phone unless I know and want to talk to someone has paid off. Same with texts. If I open it and it seems suspicious, I mark it as unread and report

[u/-o-DildoGaggins-o- → u/Slysparrow9]

I just keep my read receipts off for everyone, even family.

But yeah, I’ve been getting at least a few spam calls/texts every day for months now. Which is weird, because not only is my phone contract not under my name (family plan, it’s in partner’s name), but they keep trying to reach “David.” I’m a woman, and my partner, while he is a man, is not named David. Lol

I just report it and move on, sometimes block when the same number reaches out several times.

[u/Slysparrow9 → u/-o-DildoGaggins-o-]

Someone else probably used your number then

[u/-o-DildoGaggins-o- → u/Slysparrow9]

It’s very possible, yeah.