Scam texts from unknown numbers could infect your phone with malware

Scam text messages from unknown numbers with seemingly innocuous messages could actually infect your phone with malware and steal your information. FULL STORY: bit.ly/3DSPow4

[@bzb500]

I block every unknown number. Done deal!

[@yolyprog2561]

Exactly same here!

[@PerfectedEvil]

Yep. If I don't know the number, it's an auto block. I have 2 people I call, and only 9 people have my actual phone number. Every other number gets blocked, no questions asked.

[@jponz85]

Same. Anyone falling for any of this shit seriously needs a reality check

[@davidmercer803]

I literally received these messages two weeks ago and I just blocked them immediately

[@meangreenmedusa]

Yup. I always warn people who give me their number to text me first because if I don't recognize the number, I will simply decline, then block.

[@LadyM251]

I received a message asking if I was ok, I knew it was a scammer because no one ever asks me that

[@COMPUTER.SCIENCE.]

😂

[@YeeHaww]

Damn😭 are you ok? I ain’t a scammer

[@sl4983]

I actually texted someone today, on a relative's old number! All I said was Hey. The person didn't respond until this evening and said Who is this and I said, Sorry I had the wrong number.

[@_eaturveggies01]

@@sl4983 Maybe the response was poorly timed and rude so you lost interest. Try sending a voice text instead

[@deemelody2396]

Dont click links or download anything from people you dont know well, ever.

[@Entertainment720_]

Also never give them your name. Like what are these people actually thinking???

[@HKim0072]

Do a little bit of research on zero click exploits.

[@pettypattytheprincess3784]

Delete those texts don’t even open them

[@awkwardmyrtle]

Who saves a random photo from a random person

[@Cooniez]

Thirsty, desperate men, I'm guessing 😂

[@jennifercooper3846]

@@CooniezYes, so in other words, men 😂

[@BeccaHetrick]

That's what I said! Who even downloads pics from people they DO know?

[@lars2894]

I think what they are saying is in the messages tab when you click on a photo to enlarge it in full-view, it saves a temp file on your phone that could have malwares written on it.... I could be wrong but sometimes people do click on small image attachments to zoom in

[@Bossanova.]

@@jennifercooper3846 And still, most victims of "pig butchering" or scams in general are women. That says a lot about their intelligence.

[@tamilrider8312]

Hey ppl, I'm a retired computer/IT person, Yet I still find Meta spy club so informative and straight forward. Thanks for your advise and helping the people...........Great work and love watching.

[@WaterBottleBlues10127]

If I don’t know you, I block you. Simple. 🙏🏼

[@user-pb2mn9ly3k]

Sometime i imagine my old mother or father old age use other people phone to call me for help, i cant help but imagine the worst😢

[@JaneTheDoe-id2vx]

hi how are you

[@gregh7457]

ASL, what are you wearing now?

[@sunnyday7843]

@@user-pb2mn9ly3kso many of my family use silent mode now - when old folks or emergencies happen- it’s as if we need another way for folks to call each other . I guess silent mode has exceptions -

[@matthew8153]

God I miss landlines and pay phones.

[@terrapinflyer273]

Pay phones were the best! Until they started charging more than $1 per call at least.

[@ItsJustJayla]

I miss caller id lol

[@user-mk2io9oe6v]

Metaspyclub anticipation is building to a fever pitch! 😥

[@charantejachinthala6199]

Metaspyclub gang in the house! Thanks for the analysis!

[@TracyAllenVideos]

I just received a text message that only said “hello“. I automatically click delete and report. But then I turned my TV on, opened KZbin, and this was the first video I saw! Pretty creepy👀😂😂😂

[@JaneTheDoe-id2vx]

hello

[@terrapinflyer273]

Wake up Neo... The algorithm has you.

[@yolyprog2561]

I never answer any unknown caller’s “NEVER!!”

[@nicole-uo9cd]

@yolyprog, That's easy to do when you're not actively looking for employment. I have to answer my phone. It might be a potential employer...

[@terrapinflyer273]

I don't answer any known callers most of the time 😂

[@abdouramanediallo5068]

Deactivate MMS photos auto-download in message settings..

[@Letgo_letlive]

I don’t see the option

[@mrnmrn1628]

​@@Letgo_letlive Neither do I.

[@chiquita683]

Nah

[@tigresstia325]

Thank you! My phone was set to auto download, and I didn't even know. Just changed it

[@msKita43]

Just did that, thank you!

[@Truechildofgod]

I always tell scammers I’m Jake from state farm they never reply back 😂 .

[@fishstixsuck]

😂

[@mamacindyrogofsky495]

Hey Jake from State Farm. 😂😂😂😂

[@barsaf9989]

Well "Jake from State Farm," what are you wearing?

[@johnball8758]

It says in the video not to mess with scammers.Just replying puts you at risk.Delete and block the number.

[@jrninjaboy915]

​@barsaf9989 uhh.. khakis?

[@lilyflower5576]

Wow this is honestly terrifying

[@Sunriru]

i just block em all and report as spam. i dont open photos either

[@AI_MIT_71]

That’s what I’m doing too plus installing the McAfee software.

[@chiquita683]

Your phone automatically opens photos

[@rra7490]

@@chiquita683my phone doesnt do that, take that setting off

[@Sunriru]

​@@chiquita683not all phones. i have to download the file to open them. so i can block without issue.

[@gwenboudreaux6080]

@@chiquita683no it doesn’t

[@papagen00]

No worries I use a land line.

[@briancates4758]

Good for you! Maybe we should go back to the simpler times.

[@zeldafitzgerald4149]

So? you also probably have no life as well. Here is a cookie.

[@kg6801]

Wish I still had that option, the system was phased out from the area I live in

[@prestond]

Three dimensional chess

[@Jasmine-iw3wi]

There are still scammers on landline too. People using your loved ones voices and saying they're kidnapped or in jail to send ransom money or bail.

[@MrColdwilliam]

Remember: this is Tech and Finance companies being defrauded and passing the responsibility off to you.

[@ogarrt]

As an adult you should be prepared for the worst such as a conglomerate getting compromised

[@ianalexander3483]

govt asleep at the wheel

[@davidfaustino4476]

​@@ianalexander3483they're paid to be asleep by lobbyists.

[@seriejohnson698]

Who on here was one of the unlucky 52 million Americans who was in the AT&T breach.

[@gregh7457]

can you hear me now?

[@terrapinflyer273]

I forgot AT&T still existed until they mentioned the security breach on the news.

[@lipschutz]

“Block and report spam” easy as that.

[@JohnSmith-nm4zd]

Don't talk to strangers

[@pcpxbotendorastermace9948]

Not even on KZbin.

[@lyndachasson6527]

@@pcpxbotendorastermace9948 Case in point: "David Greg" trying "to be friends" with hundreds of women in The Dodo channel's comment section on KZbin.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Meanwhile, people you KNOW are the problem.

[@upgrade1015]

Just don’t answer them

[@majaza45]

some people do to be funny and argue but joke’s on them 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@pattiannepascual]

why are people downloading pictures from strangers? learn how to take a screenshot if you just must have the picture. Don't download stuff!

[@mizelle4096]

right? i have enough pics, i don't need any from some stranger/scammer

[@chiquita683]

She hot

[@imperfectly_megan]

Some phones are set up to auto download.

[@phoenixmorphix]

@@imperfectly_megan Exactly , it’s always these people in the comments blaming the victim of a new issue that popped in the last week rather than the massive tech conglomerates that could easily fix this issue with 1 update. 🙄 Either way, most people who fall for these scams are ages 45+ so they aren’t always tech savvy and ready for the new seasonal scam drop. 😐

[@witchykittyy]

men

[@KB-kp2oz]

Lol. Malware in photos doesnt work like this. This is a guy who owns a company, pushing a product. Not only does it completely destroy the photo, but there are better ways of placing malware than a broken photo that can store almost zero information.

[@moe47988]

this isn’t true, malware can absolutely hide in images.

[@davidt01]

​@@moe47988Yes, but it can't be run unless there's an exploit in the phone's operating system.

[@lowquality9232]

I was confused when I heard sending a message back or downloading the photo would infect. It seems they couldn't really define the attack vector used whether it was actually the photo or something else. Its more than likely just a scam attempt.

[@DavidHo-nq7np]

​@@moe47988 no

[@peterh3213]

@moe47988 how?

[@lucylucy2171]

They are constantly texting me with "hey(use an unknown name), how are you"? Or its the im sorry im late blah blah . When i tell them they have the wrong number. They go with the "im sorry, i didnt mean to bother you" then they introduce themselves and ask me how I am. I tell them off about their scams then block them

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

I'm just trying to help 😡😔

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

But KZbin keeps removing my comments.

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

Too many victims, like myself. And I want to help people like you from never receiving one of those text messages again. A university must conduct a study on this.

[@lesliemoore1656]

I block any number I dont know or any text from an unknown number.

[@thebadgerette69]

Ditto

[@azsegrxdhtfgvijnkomlewrhtg9508]

I got one that just said let's meet at 11. Also those USPS scams are funny when you never even ordered anything. The actual USPS is scammy enough. They don't need scammers pretending to be them.

[@tracy3418]

I've gotten a lot of these

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

It's sad that there's cases where a victim ends up listening to these text messaging perverts and predators. Millions are targeted I bet but exactly how many people in America? Everyday.

[@GrigoriyNoviko]

I get a lot of spam emails 😮

[@flohough1870]

I look up the phone number on my laptop, check the area code. If neither is attached to anyone I know, blocked and delete.

[@yrien982]

wow the world is getting scarier, scammers getting sophisticated, its really dangerous to own internet nowadays...i think we better back to the old days with gsm without internet..

[@jazzfan7491]

So, to state it clearly: if you just ignore the message, there's no danger, right? Amazing that in the TV news world there is apparently no compulsion felt to explain things clearly...

[@Mr.Mister96]

If you receive the text of a picture it's already on your phone

[@M_SC]

2:08 he gives clear advices and better than your advice. Don’t ignore kt. Also maybe watch the video

[@janetd443]

Thanks tech industry for these portals to crime.

[@yolyprog2561]

Exactly

[@michaelrogers9720]

Throw away your phone, computer, and all Smart devices Problem gone. Stop complaining and do something about it But you won’t will you?

[@themartdog]

Thanks hammer industry, for this tool to break into my car

[@baloog8]

​@@michaelrogers9720there are degrees of concessions and technical leeways between having and not having completely.

[@panchitoelloco6615]

How ironic the Dumb old phones are the new smartphones.😂

[@aaronroseman]

DO NOT RESPOND!!! BLOCK AND REPORT!!

[@janellemcleod]

Yes, I get these random text messages and I never replied. I ignored them every single time

[@krjourneyfan78]

Well, this is one reason why I don’t do banking or shopping with my phone. I just use my phone for internet searches and talk and text.

[@ztomas1]

Just responding to a text message does not infect your phone, downloading something will

[@RobertJohnson-hp4gz]

I literally block every unknown number.

[@sunnyday7843]

Doesn’t seem to do any good at all:(

[@junglekutz5625]

Watched a video a few weeks ago of a guy that went around with a crew hacking peoples phones after he took it from them when they were drunk. He said that he could literally lock them out in a few seconds and would return the phone once he was successful in doing his business. I casusally gave a coworker my phone last week to supposedly put in her log in credentials and the next thing I knew nothing but malware notifications were coming through my phone. Everytime I would swipe them away, they came back. I immediately changed my number and learned a grave lesson that day. What's interesting is, she really thinks that I'm clueless and let that slide. I can't stand ignorant ass folk!

[@briancates4758]

Glad the news reporters are looking out for us. Thank you!

[@shakostarsun]

Dang 7 months ago I wish I would of seen this sooner I had no idea.

[@IonDragonRivenEUW]

Anything happened in the meantime? Responded to one 20 mins ago 😅

[@Noonehere14559]

Same

[@Dimaz42]

I wonder how opening a picture could install a malware works 🤔 does that mean opening downloaded pics from the internet could do the same thing?

[@davidt01]

The only way this is possible is with a 0-day exploit. But these are rare and usually the result of state sponsored attacks.

[@steelsteez6118]

1:11 "...or engage too much..." Yah, that's not how malware or viruses work buddy 😂

[@99999me1]

"experts"

[@jackiecastillo2484]

Ya i don't answer unsaved numbers.

[@pattiannepascual]

I don't answer and quickly block them. If it's important they can leave a message.

[@jackiecastillo2484]

@@pattiannepascual ya same here.

[@davidmercer803]

I received two of these messages over the last three weeks, and all I did was block the numbers. I didn’t even respond.

[@CoryRayGordonMusic]

They need a sandbox operating system environment for opening unknown folders with information on whether the photo/video/app is transmitting data it isnt supposed to. is transmitting data

[@martinbrink6711]

It exists... it's called iOS

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

Too many victims, like myself. And I want to help people like you from never receiving one of those text messages again. A university must conduct a study on this.

[@NeoAutodroid]

that's why when I text a friend I met irl for the first time I always include my name so they know it's me

[@delonthomas48]

“I block them!” So? How did they even get your number is the question? This is not normal yet is being normalized. Smh.

[@saturneternal]

Whatever number is not on my contact list, I automatically delete and block any unknown number

[@woollab]

I used to block unknown numbers but they spoof phone numbers so blocking is pointless. Just delete!

[@Antney946]

If you want to save the photo, DON'T! Take a SCREENSHOT instead and delete the original.

[@Where2bub]

Any photo you’re viewing in a text message is already downloaded, that’s how you’re seeing it.. to delete it you have to go into storage settings and delete files, and there you’ll find all the images that have been shared in text messages, you can also adjust you text message settings to only save images for a few days.

[@FerociousSniper]

Pretty sure I just had one of these. They texted me thinking it was someone else, and when I told them they had the wrong number, they sent a photo of some bs whitepages profile saying my number was registered to the person they were trying to contact. I've had the same number for decades. Nobody else would be associated with my phone number. Instantly blocked.

[@lasennui]

Why....why would you save the photo?

[@COMPUTER.SCIENCE.]

So you don't save hot celebrities' photos to look at sometimes? 😂 good for ya.

[@panchitoelloco6615]

I need a Dumb phone. ASAP

[@weirdnewworld1736]

Oh no - don't recommend anti-virus apps, most of those are malware themselves...oy, terrible advice

[@erynd2524]

I don’t answer calls or text messages from people I don’t know or from unknown numbers.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

I got one yesterday from a convicted felon begging for money on the same day he got 34 guilty verdicts!

[@user-xw9eo4lw8q]

I block any number I don’t recognize and select delete and report option for text messages.

[@z352kdaf8324]

Photos with malware??? Lol

[@martinaguilar5905]

This is a new way at a technological level but it is basically how unknown emails were back then and responding to unknown text messages is the same way as opening an email back then verifying you are live and just like junk email you will get junk text messages. Different ways at a technological level but still the same practice and still the same action and that is do not respond just delete. Do not try blocking. It is just like back then trying to block junk email.

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

True that data does gets send. The delivered data.

[@martinaguilar5905]

@@MariaReyes-wg5zx New way same type of activity. The same when it comes to unknown emails back then you open an attachment and get your computer infected with a virus. The same from unknown text messages with a link infecting the smartphone with a virus.

[@777sweet]

Notice being with At and T high bill and constantly getting unknown numbers…Also hiring out of the country workers

[@billiestevens318]

If people are dumb enough to click on links, then they’re dumb enough to have their phone messed up

[@mdubb4855]

Sideloading dangerous. Unknown app companies dangerous. No more security updates on you phone? Replace it.

[@jazzyj6640]

I just got one of these messages yesterday. I completely ignored them.

[@karadizon4299]

I would delete them. I’ve received so many of these texts

[@hassanmeraj8037]

I got a lot. Never answered

[@GTSongwriter]

Google Pixel does a great job at filtering out these scam text and phone calls.

[@jsab1270]

The reporter asking “what do you think about that?” WTF do you think I think about that 😑!

[@benjaminperez1149]

I don’t open. Automatic delete.

[@hd-be7di]

I got dozens of those. But the scammers left cause I'm broke and I got zero credit. Jokes on you.

[@SC2point0]

Been getting those more and more lately, and I've been blocking them left 'n right.

[@dumdum5520]

I dont even have friends that could have possibly introduced me to someone so i can immediately identify them as scams 😂

[@amberwashington7500]

I blocked them

[@amberl4401]

Yes I get them all the time. It’s hard to know if I’m chatting with a real person now on tiktok.

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

Tok Tok was your mistake

[@zeldafitzgerald4149]

Replying by being a scambaiter isn't really going to do anything. There are so many scambaiters out there that they will now list your number as a scambaiter, not a person they can scam from. Just dont click links or download anything.

[@paranoidhumanoid]

These scam texts are always so polite and unnatural sounding. My friends always text me out of the blue using derogatory and racist names, that's how I know. 😂

[@davidl1329]

Yep. I’ve gotten those texts before. I simply delete and block the source with NO response.

[@user-pb2mn9ly3k]

Sometime i imagine my old mother or father old age use other people phone to call me for help, i cant help but imagine the worst😢

[@ronaldmarcks1842]

I block and report all apparent spam.

[@MariaReyes-wg5zx]

I'd change my phone number asap.

[@AnimeStyle_823]

A minute ago I got a message saying "hello, how are you? " I immediately blocked the number and came to KZbin and saw your video. Pretty Ironic

[@tkoborny]

I got a text today that said “wrong number” I hadn’t texted anyone so I deleted it.

[@Tulku]

Why would you “save” the photo? It’s in your text message app - WHY WOULD YOU DOWNLOAD IT?

[@Where2bub]

This report seems to suggest that the malware is only when you choose to save the photo. Someone needs to inform these people, that when a picture is sent via text, and you view it, it’s already downloaded, this is why you can view the photo. No one in their right mind is choosing to save these photos, but they’re already autosaved in your phone.

[@OperationChicago]

Smart phone huh

[@baloog8]

Yeah thats a phone manufacturing problem, not a hacker problem? Why should I be hacked for saying "who is this?"

[@izba5747]

One even invited me to eat a steak together. Very tempting.

[@sl4983]

"Report to Junk"? Who gets that report?

[@josueramirez7247]

The reason why this happens is that the photo causes a glitch in the phone’s memory system that causes it to be able to run its own malicious code.

[@PageTheRageTV]

I so love my flip phone with no data plan!

[@RokushoHasashi]

Of course you not supposed to download nor answer the messages! Duh!

[@tamjeanell]

Block the number

[@cornsauce5807]

I got ones in Chinese language saying stuff like that

[@brand_god_15]

I just got a text saying are you up at 4 am.. AND I RESPONDED??! I’m so done

[@sl4983]

This is why you don't give your number to register on sites like rumble etc, any place that demands your phone number as Id.

[@ditzygypsy]

I always want to tell those loser scammers to f*ck off, but I never do. I take a screenshot of the text with the number, delete it, report it if I’m given the option to, and block the number. I have more numbers blocked than I have contacts. By a LOT.

[@kiddadd]

Maybe phone companies and phone manufacturers can actually build some security into there products.

[@williamlee7782]

By 'download', does it mean a link to download a photo? All photos sent over text are automatically downloaded and seen once a text thread is clicked on/viewed. Is this enough to trigger an attack from an infected image?

[@ZOIZENWRITER]

everyone knows not to DL, duh