FISHING ON THE RISE: Random strangers...

In recent months, I have been getting hit with fishing attacks coming in through texting functions on my mobile.

Either someone running a financial service, or, in the matter above, a real estate marketing business out of Florida. 

On the first few, I chalked it up to my personal cell phone number being "out there", especially after this years "No Kings" protest in April.  At that time, I got a LOT of texts from phone numbers not in region with people asking questions about the rally.  Most all of them were legitimate, folks planning to be in town for the protest (and I physically met them day-of).  

But the past several months, I would get a random "Hey! Let's have coffee💖!" text.  I HAVE met with some of the Indivisible members for coffee, so, again... never gave these initial texts much thought.  

Then this one popped up this morning.  I have been nose-down, picking through setting up a new Email client, so I have been remarkable laser focused.  The syntax, "Have coffee with me tomorrow!" was identical to a message I randomly received from "Janet in LA!" a few weeks go, a "Financial advisor".

After a bit of a back-and-forth with "Evie Harris", I learned she was a real estate marketing rep out of Miami and "I would love to show you properties!"

Marked as SPAM, reported the number as such.  

One of the benefits to Apple and iOS is that you can tell the app that; if it ain't in my address book, mark it as SPAM.  No such setting on my Android phone.   

How to spot a FISHING ATTACK: 

• If you do not recognize the number the text is coming from, and it has not been flagged as SPAM (many SPAM blockers will do that), be careful.
• Do NOT divulge personal information to the sender; nothing - not your name, age, anything.
• If they ask (and they always ask) once they realize "Oops! I dialed a wrong number!"; where are you from!  Make something up.  And when they respond with (and they will) "Oh! I love it there! Let's hook up next time I am up there!"  It's a fishing attack. 
• From here, essentially, it's HANG UP.  Note the incoming phone number and MARK IT AS SPAM.  Your carrier may ask you for the phone number (you noted).  Send it and call it a day.

Stay safe.

Rade