How To Handle Suspicious Texts From Area Code 236

(KMDL-FM) Area Code 236 is probably not a familiar area code to residents of Louisiana. That area code is connected to phone service out of Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada. And recently, for many Louisiana residents, text messages alleged to have emanated from that area code are showing up on multiple phones multiple times a day.

What makes this attempted scam unique is the style in which the scammers attempt to get you to engage. They start by sending a very non-threatening text to your number. It seems as if it could be a legitimate wrong number, but it's not. Here's an example of a text I received yesterday morning.

Now, in my case, I instantly recognized this as an attempted scam because I do not know anyone from Area Code 236, and anyone who knows me knows I am incapable of making plans more than 3 days in advance.

As suggested, I did not respond and went about my day. Then came another message again with a different "wrong number" kind of vibe associated with the second message.

Okay, so now it's no longer that I'm going to be in Louisiana in October, my name has been changed to Kelly, and I don't know any Kathy in Canada. Again, my choice, as should be yours, don't respond, just let this twist in the breeze.

If you're asking why I didn't delete these messages, it's because I felt that this was the late Billy Mays of scammers, and "Wait, there's More" was going to be coming my way. It took a few hours, but the alleged Canadian scammers attempted to contact me one more time.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the trifecta. I got three scam texts from the same scam number in less than 12 hours. And to the poor scam-trash, I did not block you. It looks like you quit on me.

There Is Something You Can Do To Decrease Scam Texts to Your Phone

Seriously, there is something you can do if you get scam texts. No, you don't respond or engage the sender. Instead, you can copy and send the detailed information to 7726. That spells SPAM in numbers on your phone if you didn't know.

Sending the number and the details to 7726 will alert all major wireless carriers in the United States that this is a number that is being used for "spoofing" and "scamming". This gives the carriers the carrriers the go ahead to block that number and begin an investigation into the origins of the text messages.

You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You do that via the Official FTC Website.

Can Reporting SPAM Texts Actually Stop Them?

And no, this probably won't stop the scam-trash from attempting to scam me and others in the future, but at least we slowed them down? Or it's going to feel like we did something since we can't FaceTime them our middle fingers.

Have you gotten messages like this? Did you report the number? You really should, again, maybe there is strength in numbers. And if you get unexpected calls from these area codes or text messages from them, ignore them too.

Don't Answer Calls from These 10 Area Codes - It's a Scam

Those who are in the know about telephone and identity theft scams say these area codes produce the most problem calls for their clients. Unless you personally know someone who might be calling from one of the following area codes, you might want to let that phone call go unanswered.

Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells