Jessamine County is not too small for this. The scams are not written for you personally. They are written for anyone who might tap.
The pattern
A text, email, or Facebook message that:
- Creates a deadline (“your package is held,” “your power will shut off,” “unusual login, confirm now”).
- Gives you a link or a phone number you did not ask for.
- Asks for a code, a password, a gift card, or a “quick verification.”
Real banks, UPS, Amazon, and the IRS do not need you to tap a surprise link to stay in good standing. The IRS does not text. Your bank already has your number; they do not need you to “confirm it” from a new thread.
What to do instead
- Do not tap the link. Not even “just to see.”
- Open the real app or type the real website yourself.
- If it claims to be a neighbor, walk over or call the number you already have — not the number in the message.
- If you already tapped and typed a password, change that password from a different device, then change email.
For parents
Kids get the same messages, plus fake “your Roblox was hacked” and “your school account is locked.” Tell them the family rule: no codes, no gift cards, no surprise links. If something is truly urgent, a person they know will find them without a link.
I am happy to look at a screenshot with you. Forwarding the original message into a public question is a bad idea — describe it, or ask me in person.