855-260-5767

I received the following text message:

"Some in Congress are considering cuts to Medicare Advantage. Take a stand now: facts-76.com/1jtewy

STOPtoEND"

I used my browse incognito mode & this is the website the link redirects you to:

"https://speak4.app/lp/kc01vsli/?utm_content=db-mam-cr47sms-003&utm_medium=p2p

I would advise to block the number and ignore any further texts from them.  You could forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) but this is most likely classified as "Protected Political Speech" so your phone company will most likely ignore the submitted text.  It is also exempted from the Do Not Call Registry regulations.

This is from the 501(c)4 organization Medicare Advantage Majority claiming they are trying to "PROTECT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE!".
A search engine AI synopsis states:

Quote:

Overview of 501(c)(4) Organizations
501(c)(4) organizations are a type of nonprofit recognized under the Internal Revenue Code. They are primarily focused on promoting social welfare and can engage in various activities, including lobbying and political campaigning.
Key Characteristics

•  Purpose: Operate exclusively to promote social welfare, civic betterment, and social improvements.
•  Tax Status: They are tax-exempt but donations made to them are not tax-deductible for the donor.
•  Activities: Can engage in political activities, including endorsing candidates and lobbying for legislation.

The site does not make a plea for money straight off, but rather makes the user feel they are helping preserve Medicare Advantage by sending letters/emails to the user's Government representatives.
They start off asking for name, email, phone number and address with the usual telemarketer "Get out of Jail Free" card in fine print below the form:

Quote:

By providing your phone number, you are consenting to receive calls and SMS/MMS messages, including autodialed and automated calls and texts, from Medicare Advantage Majority. Msg & data rates may apply.

Once the user submits their identity information, they are asked to write a short description about how Medicare Advantage has helped them or a loved one.  Them they want the user to write a short description of what they would do if Medicare Advantage was no longer available.  Submitting that takes the user to a page with a pre-composed form letter to "Dear [Lawmaker]" and asks the user to "Write a short response below to tell us why Congress should protect Medicare Advantage." (referring to the form letter).  The user is given two options for sending the form letter, "Send" that will simply send a copy (via mail or email is not specified) or "Send+" that will supposedly send a follow up message two days later.  Clicking on either option takes the user to a page requesting:

Quote:

• 
  Record a short video and make sure to mention:
•  How it’s made a difference in your life.
•  Tell lawmakers to Protect Medicare Advantage and the 34 million seniors who rely on it.
•  Just click “open camera” and hit the red record button to start.

Scrolling well past the "Send" button to submit the video (nicely hidden beyond where most people would stop scrolling down) is the following fine print (emphasis added):

Quote:

By providing your phone number and opting in for messages, you are consenting to receive sms/mms msgs based on your selection, including texts, to that number from Medicare Advantage Majority. Msg&data rates may apply. Additionally, users may receive calls, including autodialed and automated calls, from Medicare Advantage Majority. Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply.
By submitting your story, you consent to the Medicare Advantage Majority sharing your story and first name on various platforms including but not limited to social media, email, and promotional materials. Medicare Advantage Majority respects your privacy and will handle your information in accordance with our privacy policy
Medicare Advantage Majority shall have the right in perpetuity to use and to license the use of Talent’s name, image, photograph, likeness, voice and/or caricature and shall have the right to simulate Talent’s voice, image and appearance. Talent grants to Medicare Advantage Majority the perpetual and universal right to record and re-record, double and dub Talent’s voice and performance and to use and to authorize others to use Talent’s name, image, voice and likeness for and in connection with the Project and all advertising, commercial tie-ups, publicity and other means of exploitation of any and all rights pertaining to the Project and any element thereof.
Medicare Advantage Majority shall own all results and proceeds of Talent’s services hereunder, including the copyrights thereof, and as such owner shall have the right: (i) to include such results and proceeds in the Project and in advertising and publicity relating to the Project, (ii) to reproduce such results and proceeds by any present or future means, (iii) to combine such results and proceeds with photographs and recordings made by others for use in the Project, (iv) to exhibit, reproduce, distribute and perform such results and proceeds, for profit and otherwise, and for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and (v) to license and assign its rights to any other person or entity. All such rights are in perpetuity. Talent’s services are a specially ordered and commissioned “work made for hire” within the meaning of the Copyright Act.
Talent agrees that the Project may be edited as desired and used in whole or in part in perpetuity throughout the world. Talent hereby expressly waives any right to inspect and approve the finished Project or copy that may be used in connection with Talent’s performance, or the use to which it may be applied. Talent further releases Medicare Advantage Majority, and others for whom it is acting, from any claims for remuneration or damages associated with any form of damage, foreseen or unforeseen, associated with the proper commercial or artistic use of these images. Talent acknowledges and agrees that they have reviewed and accepted the terms outlined above, and by submitting a video through this website I demonstrate my agreement with and consent to these terms. Submissions from anyone appearing to be under 18 and any video that appears to be artificially generated will not be accepted.

They will not allow the user to proceed without creating a video for them and, since my PC has no camera or microphone, I was not able to see what they request of the user beyond the video.  Very likely the request for donations would come after this, but they might stay low-key and simply bombard the user later with texts, emails and calls asking for money.

They may be a registered 501(c)4 organization, but that does not necessarily mean that any money given to them actually helps the cause they claim to support, although it will fill their own pockets through salaries as well as the pockets of members of Congress who will promise that they will make good use of the money as they chuckle all the way to the bank.

The information above by Nimrod (an appropriate moniker) is copied from the genuine website. It is NOT from the website included in the text from the number in question. That number is spoofed as is the link sent from it. That link leads to a poorly put together phishing/scam website. It's that simple. Nimrod is getting the two mixed together which muddies the waters even further. :|

!!Do _NOT_ follow that link!!!

It is a malicious phishing/scam website which attempts (rather poorly) to mimic the real website.

As for the text from this number containing fear mongering language along with that malicious link, REPORT it to your phone carrier, then BLOCK that number, then DELETE that text.....in THAT order.

Sent a text from a spoofed phone number with a phishing/scam link in it. Do _NOT_ follow that link!!! Either from your phone OR from here!!!!! Simply REPORT it, then BLOCK it, then DELETE it. It's that simple.

UdontNeedit wrote:

It is NOT from the website included in the text from the number in question.

That is not correct.  After the description of what a 501(c)(4) Organization is, the remaining text describes (including the quoted text) what was encountered visiting the URL posted by "Tina".

UdontNeedit wrote:

Nimrod is getting the two mixed together which muddies the waters even further.

Again, not correct.  As previously mentioned, the descriptive text and quotes were referring to the website reached by following the URL posted by "Tina" and no other site.
Is that site a (blatant) scam site?  That is a possibility.  Is it a site of a third-party company hired to do the fundraising work for this lobbying outfit?  That is also a possibility, since a lot of non-profit organizations (which includes sleezy lobbyists) outsource these efforts because it is cheaper and more efficient that doing it themselves.

I got the same text and link as above.

Another text from this number. The message differs slightly from message to message, but is the same in effect for all messages. The link was identical. Number now blocked.

I received the below text:

CMS is looking for public input on the Medicare Advantage program. Act HERE and share your thoughts! -> facts2.com/yxxly1

STOPtoEND

Forward unwanted spam/scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and let your phone service provider deal with them.
That number was set up by the phone companies to combat spam/scam texts and they can shutdown offending phone numbers.
Never reply with "STOP", scammers will not honor the request (they have no honor to begin with) and it only verifies that they have texted to a valid number with a person who reads their texts.  It will not STOP the texts and may actually make them more frequent.
Never click on a link in such a text as it may cause malware to be inserted on your phone, and even if it does not, just as with replying "STOP" the scammers will know they reached a valid number.
Do not repost any links included in the text message to public sites such as this one.  It may subject others to malware if they click on it or, in some cases, it may reveal personal information posted on the target site of the link.  Links that are a domain followed by a string of characters and digits (e.g., "somedomain.com/AbC1d34q") are specific to the text recipient.  If the link is followed, the sender will know and assume the intended recipient clicked on it, which may lead to more texts being sent.

Just got this unsolicited text so I reported it as spam.
"HAPPENING NOW: CUTS to Medicare Advantage? Tell Washington to keep their HANDS OFF! -> facts2.com/nzbkyy

STOPtoEND"

Unwelcomed text

I'm getting text spammed by this number too. Exact same as what Mari reported in this thread. I report them as spam but the texts keep coming in.  Finally had to block the number. However I'm sure they will likely start using another number soon to spam more.

ACTION NEEDED: Urge continued action by leaders in Washington to keep Medicare Advantage stable and affordable! facts2.com/j5ei8c