Army warns about fraudulent text messages about a military draft

The Army has issued a fact check on fake texts.

The Army released a statement this week saying it has been made aware of fraudulent text messages that have informed people they have been selected for the military draft, even though the United States did away with the draft in 1973.

Fact check: The U.S. Army is NOT contacting anyone regarding the draft. If you are receiving texts, phone calls or direct messages about a military draft, they are not official communications from the U.S. Army pic.twitter.com/3S32De8ekP

— U.S. Army CGSC (@USACGSC) January 8, 2020

The statement coincides with escalating tensions in the Middle East between the U.S. and Iran.

The texts tell recipients to report to the nearest Army recruiting center “for immediate departure to Iran.” The messages have reportedly warned people that “you’ll be fined and sent to jail for minimum 6 years if no reply.”

Fact check: The U.S. Army is NOT contacting anyone regarding the draft. If you are receiving texts, phone calls or direct messages about a military draft, they are not official communications from the U.S. Army pic.twitter.com/3S32De8ekP

— U.S. Army CGSC (@USACGSC) January 8, 2020

Those who have received the messages are directed to not respond to the numbers, according to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

“U.S. Army Recruiting Command has received multiple calls and emails about these fake text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command of the U.S. Army,” a bulletin read.

The Army does not know who is sending the messages or how it is being done. “Army security personnel are looking into the origin of the messages,” a spokesman told the Verge.