If You See This 3-Word Phrase in a Text, Delete It Immediately

You weren’t born yesterday, so you know to delete a threatening text message that claims to be from the IRS. And your “Spidey sense” starts to tingle when an text says you need to confirm your credit card number in order to receive a package.

Nice try, scammer.

But if you don’t know about a certain three-word phrase that scammers rely on, you could be at risk of falling for a scam text.

The phrase you need to watch out for

It may seem like a perfectly harmless phrase—heck, even a friendly one—but you should be on guard if you receive a text that contains the three words “would you kindly.” Even the single word “kindly” may be a red flag.

What’s the big deal? Isn’t the sender just trying to be polite?

That’s what the scammer wants you to think. Read on to learn why you should proceed with caution and how to handle that text—before it’s too late.

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Why is “would you kindly” a red flag?

“The word ‘kindly’ is simply something we don’t use in our common vernacular in the U.S.,” says Tim Bajarin, a 40-year veteran technology analyst and the chairman of the San Jose, California–based market research company Creative Strategies. “You’ll often hear it used in countries with British influence, perhaps once a colonial country, where English isn’t their mother tongue [such as Nigeria, India and Pakistan].” 

Because the word “kindly” is likely used by a foreign national, it’s possible (and even probable) that the message was sent by someone in an overseas “boiler room” out to defraud you. “If you see this word or phrase, it’s a red flag, similar to poor spelling or grammar,” adds Bajarin, who counts personal computing, cybersecurity and mobile devices as a few of his core specialties.

What else should you watch out for?

There’s more to be suspicious about than a certain word or phrase or spelling mistakes, notes Doug Shadel, founder of the Fraud Prevention Strategies and former Fraud Investigator and Special Assistant to Attorney General’s Office in Washington State. “Really, any communication that you get that’s unsolicited—whether it’s a text or robocall, social media message or email—should make you highly suspicious,” he says. “If you didn’t initiate this correspondence, chances are it’s a scam.”

Shadel, who also directed AARP’s Fraud Watch Network for 30 years, says that scammers know consumers are onto them more now than ever, so they’ve shifted tactics. Now, a common opener is a seemingly innocent message that says something like, “Did I miss you today?” “Hi, how are you?” or “I’ll be late for the meeting.” Then, says Shadel, “when you write back to ask who it is or tell them they’ve got the wrong person, they will try to defraud you in some manner.”

These conversation starters are used to gain your trust and friendship, reports the FTC. At some point, the sender will ask you to invest in cryptocurrency or say they’re in a jam and ask you to send them gift cards, but it’s all just a scam.

What should you do if you get a text with this phrase?

The rule of thumb is to just delete the text or emails that are unsolicited.

“If it’s an ‘imposter’ message, like someone claiming to be from, say, Bank of America or the IRS, never click on the link or attachment,” warns Shadel. “If you’re not sure if it’s [legit], you should independently log into that account with your own login and password—not what was sent to you—to see if the institution truly was trying to contact you.” Or call the organization by using a published phone number to verify the message was legitimate.

Should you report messages like this?

Yes. While you might not think reporting fraudulent emails or texts is effective, Shadel says it’s important for one reason: “Law enforcement needs to know the extent of the issue, to be able to devote more resources to stopping scammers.”

Here are other ways to fight back against scammers:

• Use your mobile carrier’s tool to catch and quarantine robocalls and spammed calls like Verizon’s Call Filter, AT&T ActiveArmor and T-Mobile’s Scam Shield. Or opt for third-party options, such as Truecaller, Robokiller or Nomorobo.
• The advent of AI may improve the spelling and grammar of the fraudster, so always remember that if you didn’t ask to be contacted, chances are the message is  a scam—even if it’s written in perfect English.
• Don’t fall for tempting offers. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) on your online accounts. This means you’ll receive a one-time code via text or email that’s required in order to log in.
• Reject any unsolicited advice or offers of help, as many scammers pose as “tech support” who will tell you they’ve detected a problem on your device and can walk you through fixing it.

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this piece on scam texts, Marc Saltzman tapped his 30-year experience as a technology journalist, the author of several books (including Apple Vision Pro for Dummies) and the host of the syndicated Tech It Out radio show and podcast to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources, including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Tim Bajarin, chairman of Creative Strategies and veteran technology analyst; phone interview, Sept.20, 2024
• Doug Shadel, founder of the Fraud Prevention Strategies and former fraud investigator and special assistant to attorney general’s office in Washington State; phone interview, Sept. 18, 2024
• FTC: “Why it’s not rude to ignore ‘hi, how are you?’ text messages from strangers”

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