SMS Scam Alert: Free $1,000 Gift Cards from TargetContest.com

I got this message this am on my cell phone. Thanks for putting the scam message on the search page, saved me from sharing information with more marketers

im in iowa and i got the crap to....

I also received the same text today & would love to know how they were able to access my phone number since I have a "do not call" inplace.

I am in ill. an i got it too!!! Thank you for letting us know!!!

I live in Texas and got this message on my cell phone this morning. Almost went to the web site, but something told me to check it out first! Thanks soooo much for warning!

Got it as text message on my cell phone 4 times now from 4 different numbers. Didn't respond since I haven't been to Target.

I'm in UT and got it this morning!

I got it too. Should have known it was too good to be true! How did they get my cell number tho???

got the same txt message went on line put in code the clock timed out and went no further
so i was not able to give more info. glad it stoped,thanks for the warning it is a scam.

Just because it "timed-out", don't think they did not have time to capture your information.

I'm in Oregon and received the Scam via text 26 Nov, how the heck did they get my cell? I knew it was to good to be true. * SCAMMERS!

Thank you for this posting, I just received the message via my cell phone. Who can we report this to to make it stop for others who aren't aware?

I also received this message on my phone - Thanks for the website warning

I just received the encouraging message it brought me to the "Puter" I was disappointed to find it was a scan I don't have text service on my phone neither have I entered any contest ,shopped ,at target in the past two years , thanks for the warning I will call my phone service and ask them what I can do I hope Target Corp. will investigate this fraud?
thanks

i just received this messege on my phone...i immediatly went online to research it and found my answer... i work for target and have for 20 years and this is not how they work...thanks so much!!!

I also got this message on my phone today

I recieved the message on my phone today. So glad that this warning is up!!! I will definately delete the message!

I just got the message and said I won $1000.00 Gift card at Target at 5:46 P.M. 11/15/12 but the winning code was 6354 I knew I had not entered a contest then I logged on and seen your scam messages. Thanks a lot. Sheila/Va.

I, too, got the message. Like an idiot, I went online and entered the code. It didn't go beyond that, thankfully. I quit after 1-2 tries. I decided to check it out online this morning. thanks for the info!

So glad I looked into this before any personal information was entered. Luckily for me after I entered my 'CODE' my computer found an 'ERROR' on page and it wouldn't go forward....so I looked it up and found the SCAM ALERT! Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks,
How to prevent this from happening again?

I got the same txt I am letting my local store know about it.

I got the same text. From 619 876-0993. I did not respond because i thought it was a scam. Watch out for these scum bags. RT.

I got this as well. But I did go to there website and put in the code. Is that bad? I didn't give out any personal information but can they still hack into my computer?

I sent a letter to Targets corporate office. Lets see if I get any results over this matter about the $1000.00 gift card promo?

I sent a letter to the Target corporate office about the $1000.00 gift card scam... I hope to hear back from them???

omg we need to catch these scammers i got a text but knew i did not enter in anything so i didnt bother some one needs to do something

I recieved the text from 951-965-7427. I figured it was a scam because I never entered any contest.

I also received this text msg on 11/17/12. Thank you for the warning!

Yeah, I got one of these from 951-965-7383. Knowledge is power!

Got a text from 951-965-7228. SCAM..I didnt enter any contest

got the text today the new # the target scam is using is 951-965-7205

i got the code 6354 from the number 619-481-8220 make sure to spread the word THIS IS A SCAM!!! i just got the txt at 11:56pm 11/17/12

I just received the same text message. I didn't enter any contests so I immediately thought it was a scam of some type. Thanks for this scam alert! Target should get involved and track this and do all they can to shut it down. It makes me angry that someone would use my phone number to try to scam me. Is nothing private any more?

9095386732 is the number they're using now. Glad i looked this up. The only thing I've put my cell number on is job applications so idk how they would have even gotten my number.

Also got a message from the same TargetContest.com scam stating that I had won a 1,000. dollar gift card. Looked on this web site an I'm glad I did. I just deleted this nonsense.

Got this txt about 30 seconds ago. I google everything first. BAM. Scam. From fone# 951.536.0689. AC 951 is in CA, western South Riverside County. Sprint carrier. VM is already full (: Someone should alert Target's legal team, copyright infringement (using their logo w/o permission) can be quite serious.

thats stupid i entered so GREAT going to be fun time!

I got this text from phone #951-965-7383....it seemed to good to be true, googled it, found this scam alert. Thanks for the heads up.

E.S.

I also got this on my cell phone twice. Thanks scam saved me

I stupidly fell for it. Anything I can do to stop it. What do they do with this information?

Immediately cancel your debit/credit card & order new. I too got sucked in. Somehow subscribed to a "knife of the month" club with no way to option out. They are slick. As long as you didn't give them your SSN you should be ok. Jim

Got this scam message from phone number 612-723-5415. Thanks for confirming my suspicions... really ticked they have my cell number.

I figured it was a scam. Just love a scam text at 5:30 in the morning too!

I just received this message. I wish every one would do as I do go on the web and ask if its a scam and then read the post. Thanks for posting... Scott in N.C.

Charlotte, NC - received last night. Thanks for the info!

I received a text too from tel #6127517898- glad others reported the scam as I thought it was real! Thank you for saving me!

I got it this morning and signed up like an idiot

Message received from 909-538-6591, Nov 17 @ 7:31am
Thanks for the info

Just received a scam text message from 612-723-5415

I just received the same message from 619-876-0993 ...

Just got my notice of winnings, thank you for posting the scam.

I just received this text too! Thanks so much for reporting this!

received mine from 619-961-0201

very helpful, thank you. i received one of these texts today.

omg they just sent the message to me. 6354 at targetcontest.com

got this scam at 8:11 am from # 619 972-6122

I got this message on my cell phone, so i called my local target store and found out it was a scam.

they should'nt mislead people target needs to take care of this. because it's not right to do someone like this telling them they won something and they never.yes everyone could use help around christmas ,but doing something like this is totaly wrong

I couldn't even find the web site so it may be down already

Just amost fell for this, but I did sign up at target for a give away recently.

I think this is sad an pitifully pathetic especially in today's economic state when so many family's have no job's and no money to give to there family for the holiday's !!!!! Retailers an anyone else involved should feel ashamed by this getting innocent family's thinking they won something to help them and then slamming the retail door in there face BAD so so BAD.

Just got this same text message and it said to enter code 93849 to win. ugh. First the phone politicians, now text scams.

I have entered some contests so I wasn't sure if this was one I entered or not. I entered the code, and it went to a page where it asked for my email. I didn't enter my email. Can they get my info from my entering the code?

I just got a text for this scam,and like you said,it looks very real. The Code was 3748 (Numbers are just switched around). I was constantly asked to fill out surveys; One after another. I finally text them back,to ask tell them about the many surveys,and when would I receive my gift card. So far, I have not gotten an answer. I saved the phone number on my cell. I will be reporting these "Scammers" to the BBB.

If you have visited the scam website, please scan your computer with an anti-virus software. The site could contain a keylogger. Even if you didn't put any info in, keyloggers can track keystrokes and are able to give the person your account infos such as FaceBook and credit card numbers.

Who would get one of these text messages and actually think they won something? Really people? Also, I got this message this morning at 6:30 AM. Thanks for the early morning wakeup call :(

I also got this message at 2am in the morning. I was glad I went online to find out it was a scam.

Thanks for the warning

I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I got this message on my cell this morning. Thanks for the scam alert! Wondering WHERE they got my # -- it is unpublished and I share it only with friends. One of my friends must have been a victim...

I recieved the message this am as well, from 619-961-0201. I was suspicious, because I know I did not enter to win anything, and it is the holidays when crooks are making us honest folk look over our shoulders. Glad for your confirmation!

I just received that message this morning. Thanks for the warning. I didn't enter a contest anyway so I figured it was another scam.

Thank you for providing the information in this article. I received the texted and immediately knew it had to be a scam because I dont shop at target and havent entered a contest. I'll learned to search the internet for legimaticy before I click and unknown link. Hope others will learn that too.

new york got the message 616 nov 22 sandy victims dont need false promises when they have lost it all thanks for the alert!!

i got this text message today. Thanks to this post, I made sure not to respond. The phone number the text came from was 619-985-5943, which is a San Diego area code. I live near Los Angeles, California.

I'm in MA and I just got this message. Thanks for the head's up.

I would also like to know how they got my cell number since I have a "do not call inplace." Its says to call 612-749-0349 and enter code 4787. The text came in at 555am 20Nov. Just thought you would all like to know.

I got the same message and that number was 612-750-4220 i am sure glad the scam POSTING pop up with the WARNING thank you going to share and let everyone no this is junk, do not go there PLEASE listen this is a scam.

I have never registered for Target so immediately realized "Too good to be true". How did they get my cellphone number?

Just waking up to a text from 612-750-9884 with the same message and was like Target wouldn't work this way, would they? Sure would be nice with baby on the way and Black Friday Shopping but checked the internet and found these posts. So glad so sad. Shop Target all the time and hope they do all they can to advertise they had nothing to do with the SCAM. Thanks from WI.

Yes, got it at 1:15 a.m. I was asleep when it woke me. Feeling excited to have won, only to go to the TargetContest.com to find nothing. Bad, wonder if it is not a Target market thing to get us to think about Target. Sad if it is.

i was I got this text at 3am and ti knew it was a scam I just want to Holla to my friends know that this is happening
the number i got was 621-750-9884

this is awful

Wow! I'm so glad I looked this up before trying to claim my "gift card". I received a message exactly like this one. I knew I hadn't entered a contest from target so it seemed fishy.

I'm in Forks, WA and got this yesterday from 619-481-8220 and the code is 53822. I thought it was a scam because it said because I entered a contest last month and I knew I did not.

I just got the SMS.

Yeah, I got this text message....been there, done that with other like offers. The very next day, my email was "taken over", as these scammers published my addy. Had to change my address, and other precautions. Learned the hard-way. While there are many good aspects to text messaging as a communication platform, these scammers are giving it a bad name. If it sounds "too good to be true, probably NOT. Don't get SUCKED-IN.

If I never give out my cell phone number , how do these scammers text me?

I also got this text 2x at 1148 pm and again at 246am

I received this same text msg today from 951-992-9895, saying that I had won $1,000 Target gift card from last months entry. I am not a person whom enters contests, but I did make an online purchase last Month. Now, the frightening issue here is, this "scam" knows that I made a purchase through Targets website?? What other info could they possibly have? Or was I, by chance a random "chosen one"? * frighting? And I also agree with the comment made from "DevilDog", regarding the text through Verizon; I'm with Verizon as well. What the hell?! Is correct!

son of a gun, i thought i won it :(((

In an attempt to seem legitimate these scammers somehow were able to deliver instructions for claiming the prize by utilizing my VerizonAccess Manager text messaging feature via my 4G LTE mobile broadband modem! What in the hell is up with that? Feedback? How is this possible without Verizon Wireless being in collusion by lending support. I am STEAMED!...Mike G.

I got one of these messages at 1:34 a.m. If these people think these hoaxes are funny, it's just wrong that they do this around the holidays.

new york thanks for the scam alert!! victims of sandy do not need any false promises 1000 dollar target card is pretty enticing to people who lost everything especially with the holidays .. thanks again

2 messages on my phone...babck to back days. Guess they thought since I did not respond to the first one within 24hrs I would fall for teh second text.

To all others who have been txtd this number..909-762-5224.....thats a scam DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR INFORMATION!!!! PLEASE POST ALL NUMBERS...and call the better business bureau at 216-241-7678 and report the number so they can shut them lowlifes down!

I also got it from 909-762-4712

I got this text this morning. Sorry not to get $1000 right before x-mas, but so glad to have the correct information and not get scammed!

I recieved this too on my cell phone. I shoiuld have know right away when the message was at 6:00 in the morning!

Joe in PA

I just received this message on my cell phone,didn't remember entering any contest at Target.Thought it was a scam,looks like I was right.Thanks!

In Colorado Springs, received this morning, deleted the number it was a 909 number. Scammers!

I got this text message. Thank you for letting us all know it is a scam.

I think this is so stupid here it is all most Christmas and you have people like this out there thank god for the scam alert I didn't even waste my time and to those who don't I feel bad for them!!!!

I didnt believe it fo a second I never entered any contest soooo why would I win somethin yo....

im in indiana and I got the same bull crap Nice try didnt work we dont need it anyway! whoever is doing it stop texting my phone its not funny. this happened to me on Nov. 25th 2012

i got a texted at 4 am this morning an we are so broke right now that when i read this i was so excited to get the text, but everyone tells me its a scam, an every time i try to go on line to look it up it says it tempory out of service , ummm i am so upset that i would get this, i think that the retail who sent this desreves to be kicked in the throat, this is so not cool

DOES TARGET KNOW ABOUT THIS & IF THEY CAN WILL THEY DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I FELL FOR IT '' I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE ENTERED A CONTEST WHEN I WAS AT TARGET LAHOWST MONTH . I GUESS I'LL BE GETTING ALL KINDS OF ADVERTISEMENTS NOW .
HOW CAN I STOP THEM .

I am really glad there is a web site that offers information on this scam. I recieved this text via my cell phone and couldnt figure out how they or whoever got my number since i didnt enter any contest. Thank you for helping people with this issue.

Thanks for the information! I knew it was a scam; I have not been in Target for a least 2 years!

I'm in south carolina and I got the message this morning at 5:30 am

got one of this but it was target contests.net. and enter code 41839 to claim gift card.

thanx. i didnt even respond(not that i wouldve guiven them the info when i find they want freinds as well!), it stopped me from going to thier bogus website..
GOOD Article, and once again thanx yo8u saved me a lot of agrtavation

got that massage today Thanks for the info....

Got my call at 6:00a.m. this morning and new it was a scam right away! These people are sick and have no moral compass do guide there lives...its just gotten to be rediculous how much of this stuff occures every day.

I just got on November 29, 2012 a text not from TargetContests.com but from TargetContests.net. the winning code being 84238. I did not enter anything as I was suspicious and decided to look it up on the internet when I cam upon this scam alert. It seems to me the people you are warning of are getting crafty and changing the site they want you to go to after you have informed people to be wary of the other site you have mentioned above.

Thank You for the information. I received a text on my cell this morning and was concerned. I had not signed up for anything but I have been shopping at Target's alot and my daughter has a baby registry there so the article was a great help. I don't reply to numbers i don't know and this is why! Thanks very much for the heads up.

I'm in TX, got the text on my straight talk cell at 4:am really? the # 315-271-7371. I never enter contests but I do shop at Target, this is a shame! Thank you for the info, times are too hard for stupid jokes!!!!

I got this one. Sad world we live in. Seems like I should send my son to school for scamming and crookery if he wants to survive.

Hi I`m from Nj,I get this text msg.just 3 minutes ago.Thanks you shared with us your story.