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The Federal Trade Commission is pursuing complaints against 29 affiliate marketers accused of sending "hundreds of millions of unwanted spam text messages" to consumers. The texts enticed recipients with promises of "free" gift cards from major retailers, supposedly worth up to $1,000.
Recipients who clicked on a link within the deceptive spam texts were sent to websites that required them to enter sensitive personal information, to apply for credit, or to pay for subscriptions. The FTC is seeking restraining orders against the defendants to prevent them from sending out such messages.
Meanwhile, stay safe: Just as with e-mails, be wary of any unsolicited text messages that require you to click on links to unfamiliar sites or to give away personal information. And always be careful of something-for-nothing offers.
Source: FTC
For more advice on staying safe online, check out our free Guide to Internet Security.
