Concealed Carry Text Message Scam Circulating Widely

Law Enforcement officials nationwide are advising anyone receiving a text message about concealed carry permits from an untrusted source should delete it immediately and not click on links provided. Doing so could provide access to personal information on your smart phone or device—including financial details—to the perpetrators.

“The DPS [Utah Department of Public Safety] warns the scam is designed to ‘gain information from individuals’ though it isn’t clear what that information might be, though it seems likely the fraudulent link could mine information from a cell phone if the link is clicked,” Salt Lake City, UT, Fox News affiliate KUTV cautions. “Those getting the message may not have a firearm permit, but curiosity or confusion can still get clicks.”

California’s San Diego County Sheriff’s office has posted a warning on its website that explains, “Permitium has recently been informed of a nationwide scam that has been targeting citizens with CCW permits. Those targeted by this scam have received text messages alerting them that their permit needs to be renewed or changed and offers a link to provide the user’s information. This link is malicious and has NOT been generated by Permitium or your local agency PermitDirector Software. NO TEXT MESSAGES FROM PERMITIUM CONTAIN LINKS.”

It advises victims should, “…report the scam to https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds. We have confirmed that the text messages are being sent randomly from phone numbers to people across the entire nation.”

Urgency was added to the scam’s text message in Florida, likely elsewhere. Jacksonville’s NewsJax4 cautioned viewers in a  Dec. 22 story  that, “If you get a text warning you that today is the final day to get a concealed carry permit in Florida, DELETE IT right away, authorities warn. It’s a scam…The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post that it has received reports from multiple residents about the text message.”