Text Messaging Scam Targeting Middle Georgians

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A text message scam is making its way through middle Georgia and scammers are finding new ways to get your credit card information.

As one Macon family learned, the scammers are being persistent.

Phil Taylor got the message first.

“I was expecting some medication to come through the mail and I use a company, part of their name is ‘express’, so I thought well I’ll just dial up that number,” said Phil.

Then his wife Janet got it, twice, just minutes after him.

“I heard the beeping, and of course it happened twice… And I thought oh this sounds like an emergency,” said Janet.

Phil dialed the number once and realized it was a scam. He quickly hung up, but then he dialed again out of curiousity, and followed the first prompt. He realized it wasn’t an emergency or his pharmacy.

“I punched the number one as it instructed, then it says enter your 16-digit card number, then I knew it was a scam,” said Phil.

Kelvin Collins, the President of the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia, says at least two dozen people have been targeted, including himself.

“If we’re getting 25 calls, then that means there’s a lot of people out there receiving these text messages,” said Collins.

The text is from a six-digit number followed by @vtext.com. One version of the message says call 1-305-455-9475 “Direct Express.”

Our 41NBC executive producer, Rachel Smith got four in one day. So we called the number, too.

After pressing one, just like Phil told us, the recorded message asks you for your 16-digit card number. Collins calls it a major red flag.

“Your bank, your credit card company, they’re not going to call you, they’re not going to text message you, they’re not going to ask you for that personal information, because they already have it,” said Collins.

Collins says so far only two people have actually followed all the way through the message prompts.

“They pretty much realized what they were doing. They called us, and we were able to get them in touch with their credit card company and make sure no charges were made on their credit card.”

The Taylors say, now that scammers are finding new ways to target, it’s time to be even more cautious.

“If it’s hitting home, it’s time to be wary,” said Janet.

Collins also warns people need to be careful when calling any numbers. He says sometimes automatically connect you overseas which can cost big time.