Police: Beware of Text Message Phishing Scam

If you receive a text message saying you won a $1,000 gift card to Best Buy, delete, delete, delete. 

That's the message from the Suffolk County Police Department as its Identity Theft Unit is warning residents of a cell phone text message phishing scam that is intended to trick the receiver into divulging personal financial information.

Police became aware of the scam in which a text message is sent to a person’s cell phone alleging he/she is the recipient of the $1,000 gift card. The text message continues to encourage the recipient to go to a website to claim the prize at www.bestbuy.com.baqz.biz.

Once the recipient attempts to claim the gift card, the senders of the message attempt to gain personal information such as credit card or debit card numbers. Suffolk Police confirmed with a representative from Best Buy that the company is not running this promotion.

Police are advising residents to delete the text message and not to respond. The public is reminded to never reveal their personal identifying information to anyone who has made unsolicited contact by, phone, email or text message.

For more information regarding identity theft prevention and resolution, visit the police department’s website at suffolkpd.org and click on the ID Theft Unit link.