Scam texts from "recruiters"

[Sojourner]

I've been getting one or two scam texts a day recently, saying something like "Hi, this is Callie from Geminon Worldwide talent recruiting. I came across your resume recently, and you have exactly the skill set we are looking for. Ready for an exciting remote opportunity? Reply yes to learn more!" Oh, they came across my resume, did they? Funny, I took down my LinkedIn profile five years ago, and haven't updated my resume or posted it anywhere in at least 12 years!

Anyone else being plagued by these texts? I always immediately hit the Block and Report Junk button on my iPhone when they come in... but they just keep coming. It's incredible to think anyone would actually fall for these, but I guess enough people do to make it lucrative. Apparently, the goal of most of these is identity theft, because they inevitably will ask for your SS#, your drivers license info, and bank account numbers at some point (e.g., "Now that you've accepted our offer, we'll need some information from you to run a routine background check. Don't worry, this is standard practice for all our new hires!").

 

[Lorenzo]

Same. I deleted two today, with the Report Junk option--as though that does any good.

 

[omni550]

I was getting a few every week in 2024. I'd block the number.

I got a few in January.

And they've now seemingly stopped.

omni

 

[athena53]

Just got one this morning. It includes paid maternity leave. I'm 72. Deleted and reported as junk.

 

[big-papa]

Yep I get them at least once or twice a week. I'm seeing similar things on LinkedIN as well. Clearly spam as there seems to be no evidence that the person sending has looked at my profile - including my name or the part that says "retired".

 

[Qs Laptop]

Did/do all of you reporting these scam recruiting texts have a listing on LinkedIn?

 

[Golden Mean]

I get a few per month, but they match my old skill set. So I think they are coming from LinkedIn since I'm too lazy to change my profile to "retired".

 

[athena53]

Did/do all of you reporting these scam recruiting texts have a listing on LinkedIn?

I do but without a phone number. I'm pretty careful about providing my cell number anywhere I think it might be misused and get few spam calls so they may just be spamming random numbers.

 

[MichaelB]

I’ve been getting two types of spam texts.

One is recruitment or job offer. I don’t have an employment profile anywhere, so it’s just generic spam.

The other is SunPass, which is the Florida electronic toll system. The message is about an unpaid toll and impending action.

Unfortunately the sending numbers are always different so blocking the number isn’t effective.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

Just got one this morning. It includes paid maternity leave. I'm 72. Deleted and reported as junk.

Does reporting it as junk prevent spam/hackong?

 

[fosterscik]

Those toll pass fine texts are especially annoying. So far they are easy to spot because they originate outside the US (they have + codes) but they always give me pause

 

[braumeister]

The other is SunPass, which is the Florida electronic toll system. The message is about an unpaid toll and impending action.

"Unpaid toll" phishing emails are ubiquitous around here, since the Ohio Turnpike recently joined the E-ZPass system.
The authorities try to tell people that unpaid toll notices will always come by snail mail, but the phishers are persistent.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

Just got one this morning. It includes paid maternity leave. I'm 72. Deleted and reported as junk.

Does reporting it as junk prevent spam/hackers?

 

[big-papa]

Did/do all of you reporting these scam recruiting texts have a listing on LinkedIn?

Yes. They have to or they wouldn't be able to send me a message inside LinkedIn.

 

[Walt34]

DW has received several of the toll road texts, but so far I haven't received any. (Hope I didn't just jinx myself.) Once in a blue moon we do drive on a toll road but that's about once every two years or so. The last time was the Chesapeake Bay Bridge visiting relatives at Thanksgiving.

 

[Sojourner]

Did/do all of you reporting these scam recruiting texts have a listing on LinkedIn?

No LinkedIn profile for me. I deleted mine five years ago, yet the scam texts have been flooding my phone recently.

 

[athena53]

Does reporting it as junk prevent spam/hackers?

No idea but it can't hurt and it at least blocks that number.

 

[omni550]

I do but without a phone number. I'm pretty careful about providing my cell number anywhere I think it might be misused and get few spam calls so they may just be spamming random numbers.

I had someone from my distant past call me on my cellphone a few weeks ago. I was quite surprised, as I'm loathe to share my number. When I asked how he found my number, he said he just googled my name.

After the call, I tried googling my name, and 'bam' there it was! As I no longer have a land line, somehow google has created a listing with my name, home address, and cell phone number.

 

[EastWest Gal]

DW has received several of the toll road texts, but so far I haven't received any. (Hope I didn't just jinx myself.) Once in a blue moon we do drive on a toll road but that's about once every two years or so. The last time was the Chesapeake Bay Bridge visiting relatives at Thanksgiving.

My son and I received the same toll text at the same time. DH, DS and I share an EZ pass transponder. I'm not sure how they got his number.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Has anyone every tried Incogni which is supposed to remove your information from data brokers? If you have, does it seem to help? I'm drowning in spam email.

 

[jazz4cash]

I have received 2 or 3 in the past 2 weeks. Never got any before that. I am worried that it will escalate. I get as many as 10 calls per week from the “it looks like you owe some back taxes” people. So far these are the only callers that leave voicemail. My phone won’t ring for unknown callers. The caller name, company, and phone number are different every time but the script is very very similar. The voicemail translstion service helps to delete them quickly.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I don't get the recruiter spam but I do get email spam from my company's "payroll department."

It's funny because I'm a small business owner and I AM the payroll department.

 

[Morgan22]

I have a former coworker that has been telling me he's been getting some text messages lately from recruiters. He is NOT on LinkedIn so I'm not sure how they got his #. I told him to be careful when replying to them to make sure they're not a scam since he said he may be contacting some of them to help find a different j*b.

 

[erkevin]

Very common. Spend some time on https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/ to really familiarize yourselves with the latest scam du jour

 

[JoeWras]

No LinkedIn profile for me. I deleted mine five years ago, yet the scam texts have been flooding my phone recently.

I don't get texts, probably because I didn't put my phone number anywhere in the recruiting world.

As for LinkedIn: I changed my profile to "Retired at None". Well, guess what? I still get emails from LinkedIn and even recruiters!

"15 people have been hired at 'None' last month. Are you the next?"
"I am looking for people with your skills as 'Retired.' Please respond if you are interested."

Needless to say, I ROFL at these.

I have a retired friend who simply likes the affirmation that maybe he is marketable. He gets calls from recruiters all the time. It makes him feel better. The funny thing is he actually took a job last year for 3 months, but it shredded him. It was not like the cushy jobs he seemed to float through life with. He says he'll never work again after that experience, but he still likes to yank recruiters' chains for the affirmation.