att.net free message validation code - Definitive Response to Community Please

[cptxdolphan]

I, like many here, have recently received the text from "att.net free message" saying I have a validation code with which I need to respond. I have NOT changed anything, should NOT be validating anything and am rather concerned about the idea that my account may have been compromised somehow. In previous posts about this issue, all I have seen are responses from support folks who say they will contact the poster via private message to discuss the issue. However, there has STILL not been an answer to the community as a whole as to what is going on. Has AT&T been hacked and accounts stolen? What is going on? Do we as account holders need to be concerned? 

Can we PLEASE get some sort of answer here? Or do I just need to go straight to the actual support team?

The number of the text sender is 277-361. I will not respond at all, do anything until I know the proper thing to do. I appreciate any help....and thank you in advance.

[phoenix1966]

I think most of us know this is a scam. That's not my concern. My concern is that there appears to be a large number of AT&T users who are victims of it. So how did the scammer get all these numbers? It seems like everyday in the news we hear of another company's data breach and how it has taken them weeks (if not longer) to admit to said breach, keeping customers in the dark. 

I believe the OP (and I know I do) wants an official response from AT&T that there has been no breach.

[SilverFarr]

I too received the text.  It contained a ‘valudation code’.  I replied asking ‘Valudation for what?’

Please investigate.

[MiltonS]

On the AARP website, the first two recommendations are these:

• Ignore instructions to text "STOP" or "NO" to prevent future texts. This is a common ploy by scammers to confirm they have a live, active contact for more cellphone spam, says Landesman. Never dial call-back numbers either.  I replied STOP to my first text and got another one two weeks later!)
• Forward the texts to 7726 (SPAM on most keypads). This will alert your cellphone carrier to block future texts from those numbers.

Hello?!  AT&T?  Your 7726 system actually tells us to reply STOP!  I've reported this recurring text to the FTC, too.

[mdcooley]

No it did not match my cell phone number

[brainofkjf]

Same message, not similar to my mobile number. Forwarded it to AT&T 7726, the bot said to text STOP so I did, then blocked the number.

[Harley58]

I received the same message:

att.net free message: Please use this 4-digit code to complete your mobile validation: 5066. This is a single use code.

After about 30 minutes of ATT customer service calls I received confirmation that it is a spam text and that you should not reply. 

Scott

[ATTCustomerCare · Accepted solution]

Hi @cptxdolphan,

Thanks for bringing this up and thank you @MicCheck for posting your recommendations.

Texting Fraud is one of a many ways fraudsters attempt to get your information. A rule of thumb regardless of what company, app, or website you use, be cautious of the information you share.

AT&T has Fraud & Security site where you can learn about the the different types of fraud, learn how to keep your information safe, and how to report concerns including texting fraud. Our Hacked Phone article is has tips on what you can do to keep your device safe. 

Update

If you receive this message, or one similar to it, DO NOT REPLY. It is an attempt from fraudsters (bad guys) to learn more about you and your personal information. Below are a few examples of the types of information they fraudsters want to gain:

• Confirming your number is an active real phone number. (Fraudsters use this information to validate the associated phone number is real and used by a real person) (This information is of high value to hackers).
• Used as an avenue to possibly gain personal data, security codes and/or passwords
• Gaining your trust for future subversive behavior

What to Do
If you receive this message, or one like it:

1. Please ‘FORWARD’ the message to 7726 (SPAM) so our corporate Security teams can get engaged.
2. Post what messaging you received to this thread.
3. As a continual process, AT&T always recommends you change your passwords on a periodic basis and as such this may be a good time to go ahead and change your account passwords. (Please note, its’ always best to use a new and different password; using existing or previously used passwords is not recommended).

ChrisZ, AT&T Community Specialist 

[Queen1e]

Same same.

[johnmeyer]

AT&T needs to start reading the news and see what has happened to Facebook when they chose to not get stop people from using their system inappropriately.

It would be very interesting to have all these forum posts become part of "discovery". It would show that AT&T knew about the problem, but chose to ignore it.

[Legal discussions are not permitted per the Guidelines]

[chownk]

Apparently according to http://shortcodes.org/uncategorized/277361-short-code this is a fake text message being sent to try and hack you.  Do not open it, but instead report it to ATT.

[TinkEy124]

May 15 2018  TinkEy124

Apparently this is happening for some time and it’s not been stopped. Is it not stopped because they can’t track where it’s coming from or is it just not considered serious enough. Some people may not be as careful and will get scammed. So why isn’t something being done. I’ve gotten this before and ignored it. Now I’m getting annoyed and concerned. I’m going to go further with this for sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. 

[JAM015]

Add me to the list...was not thinking.  No help from AT&T Customer Care.....

 Reset Pin?

[MicCheck]

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@TinkEy124 wrote:

May 15 2018  TinkEy124

Apparently this is happening for some time and it’s not been stopped. Is it not stopped because they can’t track where it’s coming from or is it just not considered serious enough. Some people may not be as careful and will get scammed. So why isn’t something being done. I’ve gotten this before and ignored it. Now I’m getting annoyed and concerned. I’m going to go further with this for sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. 

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There's nothing anyone can do. The best help I can offer is to tell you to continue protecting yourself and your information. There's no way to "go further" and trying to do so will just frustrate you. 

[Pmax01]

att.net free message: Please use this 4-digit code to complete your mobile validation: 7827. This is a single use code.

recieved this message 5/25/2018. There is a link to an official looking att website where you can login to your account. It's clear a scam. They should block 277-361 from sending messages on their network.

[MicCheck]

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@Pmax01 wrote:

att.net free message: Please use this 4-digit code to complete your mobile validation: 7827. This is a single use code.

recieved this message 5/25/2018. There is a link to an official looking att website where you can login to your account. It's clear a scam. They should block 277-361 from sending messages on their network.

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If they did, the scammers would use a different number.