I just got a new phone number last month, have only given it out to family and a few close friends, and today got two vulgar and threatening texts from a phone number with a 435 area code. I don’t know anyone from or in Utah, but I’m wondering if someone local (309) area code might have used a spoofing service to send such a text. Does anyone know of a listing of numbers used in spoofing, or any way to determine if the text was spoofed in the first place?
Is there something in the message that makes you think it was specifically directed at you? Like your name? With the amount of phone numbers in use there is sometimes a quick turn around in handing back out numbers. It could be someone's phone number not that long ago and now you are the lucky person getting their messages.
It happened to a family member of mine. They got a new number and immediately started getting creditors calling. The previous number holder probably dropped the number to get away from the calls and my relative got all the calls.
Nothing personally identifying in the message; could have been a lucky guess by the texter that he would be sending to a male, I suppose. In any case, the threat was serious enough that I’ll end up reporting it to the authorities and let them deal with it.
Or 50% chance of being right.
I can send a text with any number I like, the temptation to mess with relatives is ever present.
Presumably my provider could link a message back to me regardless of number used, but I don’t know if the recipient could.
You can try googling the alleged phone number. There are message boards where people post their spam calls and the numbers they allegedly came from.
But your call doesn’t sound like a spam or a phishing expedition. Sounds more like simply some individual jerk with a grudge. You’re less likely to find that being discussed on message boards, unless this jerk is mass-calling threats. That sounds unlikely. But give google a try.
Yeah, I checked a few sites; the number was flagged on one site as being a telemarketer, although one of the complaints said that the person’s child had gotten threatening texts from that number back in 2012. I figure this is pretty random jerkness going on.
I believe google voice will let you use your own number or choose a new number for sending SMS.
I’ve seen other numbers from Utah that try to prompt a response. If you respond then your number is added to some sort of spam list for texts. Fortunately mine was friendly.
I noticed you on facebook and thought you were cute ;)
Text my cell pls! 1 (405)657 5908 ;)
If I dont hear from you I will know your not interested :(
I don’t have a facebook account, let alone one with my phone#.