Have you ever received a text message that you know was not for you?

It might look something like:

“Helen, are we still on for lunch?”
“I show your phone number in my phone, but don’t know who you are. Who are you?”
“Robert, where are we meeting today?”

Or simply “Hi”

If you wondered how these messages are used to scam you, I have the answer and it is not pretty.

First, these texts are called “Pig Butchering.” I didn’t think this would be a good subject line, but I did think about it.

Here is how the scam works:

1. You get the odd text message.
2. You reply and say you are not Helen or Robert, or whomever.
3. You have started to create a relationship with the scammer.
4. The relationship continues until they tell you how they have been making Money in Crypto-currency.
5. They tell you that you can do the same thing, and in your own account, not by giving money to them.
6. It continues from here until they fatten you up like a pig and then butcher you by stealing HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS from the account you set up.
7. Many of the people who send the text messages are people trapped in the slave trade working 16 hours per day from a script on how to create a relationship.

All of the details are in a newsletter I get from Malwarebytes.

The newsletter even included a 24 minute video from John Oliver who gave details on this scam. While funny and entertaining, it’s also serious and has the personal stories of people who have lost $100,000-300,000 in the scam.

If you want a copy of the newsletter, just ask and I will forward it to you.

If you just want to see the John Oliver video, go here: https://youtu.be/pLPpl2ISKTg

This is not an urban legend. Please warn others you know. You could be saving the money of your friend, family or client. Or, ask them to subscribe to my emails.

To Your Prosperity (and Protection),

Rennie

The post Are you Getting Scam Text Messages? first appeared on Rennie Gabriel.

Rennie Gabriel The Financial Coach

After two divorces and a business failure Rennie went from broke at age 50 to multi-millionaire after learning the three secrets of the wealthy (despite failing high school math). Rennie is a TEDx speaker and he now donates 100% of the profits from his books and online programs to rescue dogs and soldiers. His award winning, best-selling book, Wealth On Any Income has been translated into eight languages.