So I also sell on local websites sometimes. I just barely put a new ad up and gotten a reply within a few minutes of posting. I know it’s a scam but I don’t know how. This is the first scammer I dealt with that sent a verification number. I received another text right after my first reply to him which contained the verification code but I deleted it without opening. So can anyone tell me how this particular scam works?
Yeah definately don't give them the code... My guess that they are trying to register your phone number (and either your name or a fake name) for some kind of account that requires a phone number verification to open... They will probably use that account for illegal activities and then it ties back to your phone if anyone catches them... Sounds kind of like the two step verification process a lot of online banks use... Maybe they are trying to get a fake Google account verified or set up a fake Google phone number to use?
They'll ask for the code, which is normally generated from a "forgot my password" link on a site you log in on. I'd make it a point to change the password for whatever email address you received that on just to be safe. We had a guy at work fall for this one, which resulted in 10 Ipads being ordered from our cell phone provider.
Thanks for the info. I’ll change my password now. Next time I will just delete their texts without responding at all.
