Millions of Scam Texts Erupt from LA, Costing Americans $500M

Urgent Update: Millions of scam texts are surging from Los Angeles, costing unsuspecting Americans nearly $500 million last year alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Cybersecurity expert Been Coon from Unit221B reveals that these fraudulent messages are primarily generated from a network of sophisticated operations known as “SIM farms.”

Coon, who tracks fraud activity on the dark web, explains that these SIM farms contain numerous SIM cards capable of sending out millions of texts in mere minutes. “I could logically put together in my head the ability to send out millions of text messages in a few minutes, depending on how big the farm is,” Coon told ABC7, emphasizing the alarming scale of the operation.

Currently, Coon has identified around 45 SIM farms across the United States, with four located specifically in the Los Angeles area. “Some of these scam texts are coming from your own city,” Coon warned, highlighting the local impact of this widespread issue.

The Secret Service has also weighed in, noting that these SIM farms can pose severe risks beyond just spam messages. Recently, federal agents dismantled a series of SIM farms in New York City, which had the potential to disrupt cell phone networks across the region. “This network had the potential to dismantle cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cell phone network in New York City,” stated Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool.

For those receiving these scam texts, experts urge caution: never click on suspicious links or share sensitive information without direct confirmation from the company involved. “That’s a huge inconvenience,” admitted Coon, “but it’s better than losing access to your credit card and losing $100,000 from your savings account.”

Coon indicates that many of these scams are orchestrated by overseas operators who illegally ship equipment into the U.S. and employ locals to establish these SIM farms. However, he notes that law enforcement is actively targeting these operations, with farms being shut down as quickly as they appear.

As this crisis unfolds, it is crucial for individuals to stay vigilant and aware of potential scams. Authorities are working tirelessly to combat this alarming trend, but public awareness remains key to preventing further financial losses.

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