[wil421]

I’m curious if my phone has been compromised. The amount of spam calls and texts I get have gone through the roof. Many texts are filled with odd characters or appear to be normal HTTP links but I’m guessing they are trying to exploit something.

Does restarting help? I am hesitant to do a clean install after receiving a weird text but I usually delete the text and restart my phone.

Even my work phone is starting to get spam calls and texts and I haven’t even given the number to more than 5 people.

[lambda_tango]

Your phone probably isn't compromised.

It's common where I am to get spam phone calls that spoof Caller ID to match the area code and first 3 digits of your own number, to appear "local" and make you think it might be someone you know.

I tend to get calls in bursts. Sometimes it's the same robocall 3 times a day for a week.

Phone companies also reuse numbers, and their lists of active numbers leak now and then, so even if you get a "new" number, you can still get spam. I don't know how feasible it is for spammers to wardial every number, but it might be possible.

And I think there used to be a bug where certain characters in a text could crash am iPhone, or something to that effect.

Apple has spam detection in the Messages app now. If it's anything like email, spammers will try anything to bypass it, like replacing characters.

So in conclusion, there's not much you can do about it until phone companies fix Caller ID.

[jen20]

> It's common where I am to get spam phone calls that spoof Caller ID to match the area code and first 3 digits of your own number, to appear "local" and make you think it might be someone you know.

I see this technique very frequently too - I have to wonder if this technique work to get people to answer!? Personally if I see a call from a 415 number that isn't already saved in my contacts list, I hang up and block it immediately because the chance it is spam is so high!

[thedanbob]

> It's common where I am to get spam phone calls that spoof Caller ID to match the area code and first 3 digits of your own number, to appear "local" and make you think it might be someone you know.

I always find it hilarious when the spammers accidentally spoof a leading "+" and I get a phone call from Romania.

[lights0123]

> Many texts are filled with odd characters or appear to be normal HTTP links

From random @gmail.com addresses, right? I've gotten a lot of those recently. Probably because registering new email addresses and sending messages to each carrier's email to text bridge is free.

[wil421]

Yes both random emails and from phone numbers.