Scam Alert: New Creepy Text Message Hitting Minnesota Phones

If it seems like the majority of Americans have cell phones in their hands, it is because we do. According to Pew Research Center, about 91% of Americans own a smartphone.

One thing that I have found to be super annoying the past few months are the random (and weird) text messages that pop up...like this one:

Rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it is either OnlyFans or it is a scam.

But when a text message has a bunch of your personal information in it from a random number, that is when things go from weird to creepy.

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Minnesotans - Watch Out For This Creepy Text Message Popping Up On Phones

Twice now, I have received a random text message from a number that I don't recognize that contained way too much personal information about me.

We have so many scammers out there and people falling for messages that are similar to this, I wanted to alert you to help you stay safe.

FYI, if you have a loved one who is older, please forward this story to them, print it off, or talk to them about it as well. According to the FTC, our senior population loses the most money from scammers and it is up to us to help educate them on the risks that are out there right now.

The first message didn't have my name...but it did have my address.

I got the second message a few days later and this time, it has my husband's name listed along with our address.

What To Do If You Get A Text Message That Seems Like A Scam

If you ever get a message like this or one that could be a scam, keep these rules in mind:

Rule #1 - Never reply. Don't respond back with a YES or a NO or "who is this". Just leave it and don't send a message back.

Rule #2 - See that small text at the bottom? Messages from my kids or family members never include the words that say "if you did not expect this message from an unknown sender, it may be spam". That should be another hint that this is not from a trusted source. Feel free to hit that "report spam" button and delete the message.

There is also a possibility that these text messages could be violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which requires companies to get written consent from you prior to sending you any marketing-related texts. It might be a losing battle to try and figure this out on your own, but you can learn more about this issue at the Ginsburg Law Group website.

Tips to Avoid Being Victimized By Scams

When the Black Friday deals show up, so do the scammers! To protect yourself, the FBI shared the following tips.

Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio

Huge list of movies that were made in Minnesota

Minnesota is known for having a whole bunch of mosquitos, a giant list of lakes, and of course Mayo Clinic. We've also had quite a few moments on the big screen! According to IMDB.com, see where film crews have been for a huge list of movies made in Minnesota.

Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio