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Thread: Curious text message from VMUSA - Phishing Scam?

  1. #1
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    Question Curious text message from VMUSA - Phishing Scam?

    I've been with VM for slightly over a year. Actually, since December 26, 2010 to be exact. During that time, the only communication I have ever had with VM has been in the form of two text messages from them (sender "0000000868") every month relating to my monthly payments.

    I get one text message, on the last day of every month, immediately after I add a top-up to my account balance, informing me that $25 has been added to my account and showing me what the new balance is. Then, at midnight on the second day of every month, I receive another text message informing me that $25 has been deducted from my balance and that I have received a "New Month at Midnight".

    This process seems perfectly normal and (with the exception of three excruciatingly painful phone calls to VM customer Service last May) is the sum total of my communication with VM since signing on with them 15+ months ago.

    Until three days ago. Last Monday evening I received the following text message from sender "0000000868";

    5:57PM, Feb 13
    Your Secret Question has expired.
    Please update your PIN and secret
    question at virginmobileusa.com

    Well, pardon the heck out of me, but this sounds suspiciously like one of those Nigerian "phishing" scheme emails that you're always getting from some unkown bank or credit card company informing you that there is a "problem" with your account and that you need to "click on the link below" to update your account information and correct the "problem".

    Of course those bogus "phishing" emails are not actually from your Bank or CC company, they are just a scam attempting to steal your ID. Amazing the number of folks that still fall for 'em.

    Anyway, I did click on the embedded virginmobileusa.com link in the text message and all it did was take me to the main VM site. Didn't automatically log me into my account or anything and all I did was exit back out and have basically ignored the text message.

    Has anyone else here received this text from VM or had a similar experience regarding their VMUSA account? Should I actually go to VM's site and update my PIN and "secret question"? Heck . . . I don't even remember what my "secret question" was.

    Just seemed sort of phony to me.

  2. #2
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    I got the same thing, and logged in via the PC, and changed mine, also, if you want it to be the same as you had, just change it, then go right back and change it again.





  3. #3
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    Yeah, I also got this message a month or two ago. Seems kinda weird, but should be genuinely from VM

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by exuberance View Post
    Yeah, I also got this message a month or two ago. Seems kinda weird, but should be genuinely from VM
    Two things that make me think this is legit:

    1. I've seen these messages before.
    2. "Virginmobileusa.com" isn't sending you to some scam site, that's the legit one. If it was "virginmobile.tk" or "virginmobile.scammers.com" then I would be worried.

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