\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. "Be aware that if it's a number you don't recognize and they are making demands like this, do not comply, be suspicious.". We're here to help you take steps to end this harassment as soon as possible and to ensure your safety. This article was co-authored by Catherine Boswell, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Nihal Shetty. If you are contacted, do not engage in communication back and forth, instead, call authorities. Social networking sites are always looking for new ways to make profiles more interesting. Port Hueneme police say they have seen several reports of a new scam in which a person is sent a text message demanding money or threatening harm to their families from a cartel. If they do, the scammer sends instructions on how to pay with either a prepaid debit card, gift cards or wire money. Nothing is real here. "'If you want to get your family involved in this and not pay, this is what will happen to your family members,'" Logan read. When my son told me what was going on. Was it Mr. Montoya? She offered to give me instructions but I told her it was difficult because I barely had a data connection for her to guide me through it inside that building. We went ahead and sent 490 dollars. If you continue to try and harass me, Ill be taking legal action., It is unacceptable for you to threaten me over text. And after work my husband would go to my daughters and he would follow me home. Just dont respond and theyll piss off. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This happens often? The spoofed number originated from the Dominican Republic, and investigators determined the threats were a hoax. Now the cartel wants $2500 or he say he will kill family members. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Connor Bailey, who lives in Richmond, said he receives scam calls, texts, and emails regularly but was alarmed to see this kind of threat laid out in black and white text. (KY3) - A woman in Ozark calls it the scariest text she has ever received. The best advice is to not give these scammers any information. This is what happens to people who waste the cartel's time and money.'". The message in question reads, "I've been paid to kill you but wish to spare you. T.J. did not send the scammers any money. This is said to be a nationally recognized scam and the scammers use a vast array of phone numbers that appear to be local but are in fact owned byVoice-Over-Internet-Protocol companies. Threats are a form of harassment, and whether you know whos sending you these messages or not, harassment can shake your sense of security and well-being. If you have sent them money call your bank and tell them that the transfer was fraudulent. We confirmed with western union that the money had been claimed and picked up. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. I had my rent money, and my son begged me to loan him the money so he could send it to them. If you responded with anything other than "Cease Harassing Me," then you are being a catalyst to the drama. In the message, the group threatened Romina, who is a transgender woman. They can use it to find the person at fault. The pornography scenario, termed "sextortion," accounts for a large share of email extortion complaints, and these have spiked amid the coronavirus outbreak as people are spending more time . If you have fallen for a scam, you can post your experience here to warn others. I told her I didnt have a bitcoin wallet and she then said that there were bitcoin exchanges near me. The content that targets the men states: Listen, I am a man of a few words. See if the website is legit with our validator: After reading a reddit post I foolishly explored the sites contacted someone giving my number and called and texted threats. It's fake and the best suggestion we have is go ahead and delete that message and also block the phone number from which it came from," said Matalon. Receiving threatening texts can be an unsettling and scary experience. Domain age, Alexa rank, HTTPS valid, Blacklisting, SSL certificates, Source code, Location, IP address, WOT Trustworthiness, Spam reports, Advanced technology, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Contact options. Now I received a text with my Full name. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. As others have said ignore, unless you used your real number. Its amazing how many people this scam has effected, I still receive messages from so many people every week. There is no threat. They send people these pictures of them and their families and say we know who you are we know these are your children. So a week or so later, some guy contacted me about me wasting time or whatever. Post your questions here and have them answered by people who are knowledgeable about all types of scams. The scam uses fear to get victims to respond. Dr. Catherine Boswell is a Licensed Psychologist and a Co-Founder of Psynergy Psychological Associates, a private therapy practice based in Houston, Texas. Over text, a pimp of some escort agency is threatening to kill me and my family if I don't pay $750. He then types a message saying he is apart of the zetas drug cartel and Ive been wasting his girls time and I would need to pay or my family and I would die. I get a text message from an unfamiliar 412 number just saying, Hey Kyle, whats up, victim Kyle Dobson said. You and your familys lives are not in any danger. Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images. Take screenshots of all texts and other messages. I would like to add that any escort that wants money up front, even an amount as small as $20, is most likely scamming you. A typical Thursday at work and a friend trying to get ahold of him. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. My dumb drunk self not thinking says yes and then he immediately hangs up before I could ask him who he was. The scammer is scaring you to send money. Social media usage can be a positive tool for students to express themselves, but excessive posting may cause them to lose sight of their goals in life. The people even sent my son a picture of my house. There was never any girl to begin with. After reading these comments, I feel Ill be able to breathe easy again as it was most likely a calculated technical scam Is everything okay now ? Make sure you tell them where you live, this could help officers find the sender of the message. Are you just about to make a purchase online? I use a app call sideline and whenever I get such messages, I simply change my number in there. She is also an author, speaker, and coach. The escort is likely a man and you would never have met the "girl" It's one big scam. and our More graphic pictures followed, and then a text message with a list of Logan's family members and their addresses. I get about one a month. Owner of xtreme wonder clean llc in Florida and denver and non profit cannabalistic group for children age out or put out of foster care build skills and trades tiny homes wearhouse and shipping container homes world wide. That's. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. "I do not want problems but you do not pay me the money for the lost time, my girl will regret not having done it here. They sent my son also videos of people getting tortured and decapitated. Contact your company to find out more information. At Minc Law, we help victims of blackmail, extortion, and revenge porn prevent and respond to online threats. On the same day, police said another man, Jonathan Norris, also reportedly received text messages from an unknown Tennessee number. Some people are vulnerable. I havent gotten decent sleep since as Im always looking outside my house. If the person continues to send you threats after you have told them how much it upsets you, then they have committed a criminal offense. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Dobson replies that he doesnt even have that money, and thats when the threats begin. They kept calling my son every 3 minutes, saying that my son had requested nude pictures of one of the members of the Zeta cartel. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. These arent hardened criminals that pull these scams off, its just some computer nerds in Russia or India or even in the US that makes a living scamming. HENRICO COUNTY, Va - A young man told his mother about a series of threatening text messages he received from a number that appeared to come from a "757" area code. threatening text messages asking for money. She then began threatening me to expose me or whatever for wasting her time, and she claimed that the agency lost money or something. I had my rent money, and my son begged me to loan him the money so he could send it to them. Ignore him. "I get a text message from an. You are NOT in any danger. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It's pretty scary to be honest with you," Bailey said. These messages are often called "toots" or "booties." What ended up happening with this? Do not respond and definitely do not send them this article. Make sure you tell them where you live, this could help officers find the sender of the message. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Ignore the message and go ahead with your day. You can tell us about your experiences on the Life Story page. While I was walking to that store, she sent me nude photos. One time it was a 203 area code and another a 516. This scam so far has specifically targeted Hispanics (natural Spanish. Do not engage in conversations with offenders because it will only encourage them to continue this behavior. Thats where they not only find phone numbers but a lot of personal information about the recipients of the text and their family. asking me to pay $750 or hell behead me and my family. By alerting your HR department or school about the threats, you may be able to get them to ban your harasser from entering your workplace or school. I deleted the message and blocked the number. POLK COUNTY, Fla. - The Polk County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about a new phone scam that sends disturbing images to your phone. But what these people do was, they made up a fake profile or a young girl. Individuals who harass others by sending them unwanted texts or other electronic messages may be charged with a crime depending on the facts of the case. I asked my son if he had sent nude pictures or requested any to the profile? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. He also reported the incident to the Federal Communications Commission which tracks these types of scams. There is no danger. They are a bunch of pussies. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Respond-to-Threatening-Texts-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Respond-to-Threatening-Texts-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Respond-to-Threatening-Texts-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Respond-to-Threatening-Texts-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"