You've probably noticed that CVS has been sending you a lot of unwanted texts lately. This is often referred to as CVS text spam.
CVS sends these texts to customers who have opted-in to receive messages from the company. However, some customers may not remember signing up or may not want to receive these messages.
According to CVS, they send texts to customers to alert them about prescription refills, promotions, and other important information. However, some customers may find these messages intrusive or annoying.
To protect yourself from unwanted CVS texts, you can simply reply "STOP" to the message. This will opt you out of receiving future texts from CVS.
Worth a look: Consent to Receive Text Messages
What is CVS Text Spam?
CVS text spam is a real issue for many people. Allen Wessels, a commenter on a class action lawsuit against CVS, reported receiving over 10 phone calls a day from the company despite being on the do not call list.
The problem seems to be that CVS is not respecting the do not call list. Tamikas also commented on the issue, stating that they wanted to be added to the list of people affected by CVS's unwanted telemarketing texts.
For more insights, see: Why Are My Text Messages Not Being Delivered
Definition
CVS Text Spam is a type of unsolicited text message sent to cell phones, often with the intention of making a sale or promoting a product.
These messages are typically sent to numbers that have been scraped from online directories or other public sources, and can be extremely annoying and intrusive.
Text spam messages often contain links to websites or ask the recipient to call a phone number, which can be a sign of a scam.
The goal of these messages is usually to make a quick sale or generate leads, rather than to engage in a genuine conversation with the recipient.
They can be particularly problematic because they can be difficult to block or report, and can even lead to additional spam messages or unwanted calls.
Types of Spam
Spam comes in many forms, and it's essential to understand the types of spam to protect yourself from unwanted messages.
Phishing spam is a type of spam that tricks victims into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Vishing is a type of phishing that uses phone calls to scam victims, often pretending to be from a legitimate company or organization.
Smishing is a type of phishing that uses text messages to scam victims, often with a sense of urgency to create a false sense of importance.
CVS text spam is a type of smishing that specifically targets CVS customers with fake messages about their accounts or pharmacy services.
Scareware spam is a type of spam that tries to scare victims into buying fake software or services to fix non-existent problems.
Some spammers use fake numbers or spoofing to make their messages appear as if they're coming from a legitimate source, making it harder to detect the scam.
Check this out: Scam Text Messages Example
How to Protect Yourself
Be highly suspicious of unsolicited messages, as they can be a major red flag. I've fallen victim to a few in my online adventures, and let me tell you, it's not fun.
Typos and strange wordings in messages are dead giveaways of scams. I've seen them before, and it's amazing how convincing they can be at first glance. But trust me, it's always better to err on the side of caution.
Free gifts and prizes are always a major red flag, so be wary of those too. I've heard stories of people getting scammed out of their hard-earned cash thinking they'd won something.
Use the right tools to protect yourself, like Trend Micro ScamCheck, which can detect scams with ease – and it's 100% free!
Curious to learn more? Check out: Free Text Apps for Iphone
Self-Protection
Be highly suspicious of unsolicited messages. They could be a sign of a scam.
Typos and strange wordings are dead giveaways of scams. If a message looks too good (or bad) to be true, it probably is.
Free gifts and prizes are always a major red flag. If someone is offering you something for nothing, it's likely a scam.
Use Trend Micro ScamCheck to detect scams with ease — for FREE! It's a 100% free browser extension and mobile app that can protect you against scams, malicious websites, and more.
Explore further: Free Text Spam
Avoiding Scams
If a caller claims to be from CVS, be cautious if they offer free shipping for prescriptions. They may ask for personal information like date of birth, insurance, and addresses.
Scammers may know specific details about seniors living in the home, even if no one uses CVS pharmacy for prescriptions. This is a red flag.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) encourages people to know who they're talking to and ensure they're legit. If a call sounds too good to be true, stop, call, and confirm, or hang up.
CVS is not offering free shipping for prescriptions, so if someone calls claiming to do so, it's likely a scam. You can always call CVS directly to verify.
Fake survey pages from CVS may appear harmless, but they're actually a waste of time. They might request personal information, which can be used for cybercrimes like targeted phishing attacks and identity theft.
To avoid scams, be wary of calls or messages that ask for personal info or promise prizes. If it feels off, it probably is.
Here's a quick checklist to help you spot scams:
- Be cautious of calls or messages that ask for personal info.
- Don't trust offers that sound too good to be true.
- Verify information with the company directly.
- Be wary of links or URLs that seem suspicious.
Company Liability
CVS has been hit with a class action lawsuit over unwanted telemarketing texts, and it's clear that the company's actions have caused significant distress for many customers.
The plaintiff, Robert Lewis Jr., claims that CVS sent him five telemarketing text messages despite his phone number being listed on the National Do Not Call Registry.
CVS is accused of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which prohibits companies from initiating telemarketing calls or texts to numbers on the registry.
The lawsuit alleges that CVS sent unwanted texts to customers who did not give their number to the company and received multiple messages promoting CVS's goods or services within a year.
Here are the key details of the lawsuit:Plaintiff: Robert Lewis Jr.Accusation: Violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)Alleged behavior: Sending unwanted telemarketing texts to numbers on the National Do Not Call RegistryRequest: Treble damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and costs, and an injunction to stop CVS's alleged violative behavior
It's worth noting that CVS has been accused of sending 10+ phone calls a day to customers who have asked to be removed from the list, and the company's actions have been described as "ridiculous".
For more insights, see: How Do I See Text Messages on Another Phone
Scammers and Their Tactics
Scammers posing as CVS representatives have been making fake calls to people, claiming to offer free shipping for prescriptions. They ask for personal information like date of birth, insurance, and addresses.
These scammers are clever and can even access information about seniors who live in the home, but it's not from CVS pharmacy. They use this bait and switch tactic to sell a different Medicare advantage plan without the person's knowledge.
It's essential to be cautious and pay attention to what they're asking for. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
Scammers are also sending fake survey pages via SMS, claiming to offer prizes like $100 or $50. These pages don't appear to be malicious, but they're a waste of time and can lead to personal information being scraped.
The scammers can use this information to commit cybercrimes like targeted phishing attacks and identity theft.
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