Geek Question.

I have a VPN on my phone. My friend who is totally tech unaware has an old non smart phone. Her service provider is Virgin. She's started receiving texts allegedly from me telling her I've sent her video messages and quoting a https web address and a password to log in to 'view' this video. Is someone attempting to scam her or infect her phone? How are these texts purportedly coming from me? Thanks.

I should have added that these texts refer to Virgin and I inadvertently sent her a text a couple of days ago with an emoji which of course her phone can't read, and of course presently I can't get to look at her phone. She's a bit freaked out because she's eighty years old and at the same time someone has been trying to access the key press outside her house to get at the key. She's unfortunate in that the alley next to her house is a right of way used by local druggies to and from town.

Edited by oblomov, 06 April 2020 - 12:48 PM.

I have a VPN on my phone. My friend who is totally tech unaware has an old non smart phone. Her service provider is Virgin. She's started receiving texts allegedly from me telling her I've sent her video messages and quoting a https web address and a password to log in to 'view' this video. Is someone attempting to scam her or infect her phone? How are these texts purportedly coming from me?Thanks.

I get these; I think the perpetrator has gained access to her address book not your account. These are quite easy to spot once you've had one; your friend being 80 makes things more difficult.

I've seen a rise of scam emails lately. I'd recommend she change her passwords when she gets these emails - it might not sort the issue, but it's a good first step.

Its HUGELY likely that as shes not got a smart phone, that the Emoji came through as an MMS (multimedia Message) and older phones that cant cope get sent a URL to go and view it from

 

It was fairly common when smart phones/MMS phones arrived on the scene and different carriers couldnt easily transfer the messages across eachothers networks properly etc. I'd say this is likely 100% legit and they are just banging fresh messages to her so she gets it.

 

The key thing sounds like an unfortunate coincidence

If she has an old dumb phone, they don't get 'infected'. About the worst that could happen is that she might subscribe to a premium message service so she is safe there.

 

Is it a pay and go phone or on a contract? If it's a SIM only contract, is there an upper limit on the contract? Worth putting in place if there isn't. 

 

As noted by Slindy, the emoji probably triggered the message with the url so that she can see your funny picture. Just ignore it.

I missed the fact they are texts. You guys are almost certainly right.

Its HUGELY likely that as shes not got a smart phone, that the Emoji came through as an MMS (multimedia Message) and older phones that cant cope get sent a URL to go and view it from

It was fairly common when smart phones/MMS phones arrived on the scene and different carriers couldnt easily transfer the messages across eachothers networks properly etc. I'd say this is likely 100% legit and they are just banging fresh messages to her so she gets it.

The key thing sounds like an unfortunate coincidence

Yes this

Thanks guys for your help. I suspected it might be the emoji which is why I added a second post mentioning it.