888-821-0284

Actually Verizon does send you texts about your account. You just do not reply to them with your personal info. You can also log onto your online account and turn them off.

Apparently legitimate.  Why the account collections department was sending text messages to my Son on our family plan is beyond me. VZW emails us if there is a problem, or calls if a big problem. Customer service has the answers and help, why they waste their customer's money on a next to useless text messaging service is beyond me.
The call source number of 900xxxxxxxxxx is very misleading, but is apparently a tracking number.

Seriously, take the tinfoil hats off and think.  I just got this text message this morning and was immediately suspicious of it, so I googled it and ended up here.  Thanks to the people who to check with Verizon about your account.  For whatever reason, I didn't make my payment this month.  

I would not and do not recommend that anybody respond directly to these kinds of texts.  However, there is nothing risky about calling a DIFFERENT number that you KNOW to be Verizon's number to check on your account, or to check your account online.  I didn't want to respond to the text, not knowing for sure where it came from, so I checked my account online and found out I was late, so I made my payment.

No need to respond to the text or give anybody your personal information, just check out what's going on with your own account.

Morons? I think your a moron for assuming you know what the hell it is.  Verizon does text you instead of calling you because it is cheaper to do so.  It is safer for a consumer to come to a place like this to check up on it.

I received this text and it was to update my account.  I, like a smart consumer, went directly to the website instead of calling the number and risking fees.

Assumption is the mother of all screw-ups and apprently your the biggest!

I checked my bill online and it had not gone through so instead of calling I just did it online... So if it was a scam then they timed it perfectly

Learn how to spell.  You should have written KNOW WHAT not No what

Moron

You call people names but say "no" instead of "Know"...  How about that.

This is actually a legit message.  I just received it, logged onto My Verizon and realized that I accidentally missed a payment.

I go the same text, opened it, and it said to press y to accept something that I am going to be charged 9.99 a month.

90070003847: To avoid interruption of your Verizon Wireless service, please call 888-821-0284 or press the send key on your phone.  This is a free text message.

I went to my online account manager and I had an amount past due.
I had the bill paid and then got a payment received text notification of payment from 900080004000.

I did not text or any of the numbers but the notification of potential loss of service was real and credible.

This is a scam and there are some dishonest people responding to this. Verizon would never send a text regarding billing. Also, the number listed as the number from which it was sent (90070003847) is a pay per call number. They want you to call that number back which would cause a charge to be added to your cellphone (or any other phone used to call) bill. The extra number or numbers at the end of the 900 number don't matter. Never do what an anonymous caller, texter, faxer tells you to do.

Actually these messages that I get are usually a week late.  I paid my bill last week and got the text message today reminding me to pay the bill or face interruption in service.  Seems Verizon can't keep their billing and payment departments in check, this has happened for the past 4 months now, same message a week after the payment is made 2 days prior to the due date on the account the payment is made, then the text message a week later.  Not exactly the greatest service in the world.  

Not to mention why would I spend time dialing a 1-800 number when I can simply dial 611 on my phone.

I got the same text message today, it also struck me as odd. And I think it is very reasonable to look up stuff that is suspicious. By looking at this post despite some of the name calling, this helped me. I did in fact call Verizon via the 611 number after reading some of the comments, they did confirm the number as theirs but could not identify a reason why I got the text. Thank you for those that took the time to be nice and post constructive information here.

One other follow up. The number I was text from is what got me suspicious. 900-070-001730. So my advise to anyone, if you are not sure check it out first. And the good advise is, just like in email scams, if you are not sure, avoid the links or numbers in the message and go directly to the source. Just saying.

just got a message from 90007003947 Free Verizon Wireless Msg: A system update has occurred in your area. Please dial *228 and seclect option1 to update your handset. If programming is unsuccessful, please dial *611 for tecinical assitance. Worried this is a scam, last time I left the message alone and we where charged 9.95 on our account. So I am going to send a message to Verizon to see if they really sent this if not don't add charges.

I just called the 611 number after ignoring the weird voice and text messages I've been getting for a week now. Long story short, I found out we did not get last months bill and so...apparently it didn't get paid. Also, the Verizon person I spoke with couldn't offer any verification for the 888 number, but did say they have "auto-generated numbers" they use to contact people regarding late payments.
I still wouldn't discount this as some kind of scam, but with all my experience with the clueless people at Verizon customer service, and the circus management Verizon invents, I can say this action being from Verizon is not a stretch by any means.

You guys, I hate to break up all the name calling and fighting, but as it turns out this is a text from Verizon Wireless wanting you to get in touch with them. Like everyone on this site, I thought the text message was super shady and googled it before responding (not ever a bad idea). I knew my bill was up to date and was not due again for a couple weeks.

Turns out, there was a problem with my last payment; somehow the bank number had gotten mixed up and the payment was rejected for "an incorrect account" even though it had processed seemingly fine at the time I made the payment. Easily fixed by contacting my bank and sending the money again. If I hadn't gotten the text I would never have known there was a problem.

I suggest that if you get this text message, you call Verizon. Use 611 instead of the weird 888 number if it makes you feel better.

I got the same message ... thought it was a scam based on the discussion above.  I decided to go to my account directly through verizonwireless.com and saw that my balance was overdue.  (1st bill since I just switched from AT&T to Verizon).

It is a very strange way for them to send the message but apparently it is legit (or at least somewhat legit).  I'm still not sure I would call the number or press the send button.

This message is actually from your provider, Verizon. It is sent when your bill is overdue. Just get on the website and log in there to pay your bill. You don't need to call back the number.

its verizon financial services. i advise anyone and everyone who has a contract with verizon to switch to another carrier as soon as its up. verizon is over rated and doesnt give a [***] how long you have been a customer or how much money you owe.. its all about the money. verizon totally over rated... they suck