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The FBI on Friday said reports of racist and offensive text messages sent from anonymous phone numbers are now being sent to members of Latino and LGBTQ communities. The FBI is investigating previous reports of dozens of racist texts sent to Black Americans telling them they have been “selected" to pick cotton "at the nearest plantation" immediately following last week's election. The initial reports of racist texts last week included recipients who attend universities from California to South Carolina, with some sent via TextNow, a service compatible with untraceable, “burner” phone numbers. The FBI on Friday said the texts from the initial reports were not identical but seemed to follow similar themes. The agency said it's also sharing information on the expanding texts and emails with education institutions and faith leaders.

Persons: Juan Proaño, Monèt Miller, Derrick Johnson, Proaño, LULAC, it's Organizations: FBI, U.S . Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, LULAC, League, United Latin, NAACP, stoke Locations: California, South Carolina, TextNow, Atlanta

“We take this type of targeting very seriously.”The FBI said it “is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter,” according to a statement Thursday. At least some appear to have been sent through TextNow in what the company believes “is a widespread, coordinated attack,” it told CNN on Friday. Texts addressed recipients by nameScreenshots of the texts shared with CNN and appearing on social media show the racist messages addressed the recipients by name. Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland said in a statement Thursday that some of its students received the racist texts. CNN affiliates have also reported instances of students receiving the racist texts in South Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, among other states.

Persons: Derrick Johnson, ” Donald Trump’s, Karoline Leavitt, Orangeburg , South Carolina –, Jessica Rosenworcel, ”, “, Liz Murrill, ” Murrill, Murrill, Cori Faklaris, ” Faklaris, Letitia James, ” Kenneth Gray, Alysa, Arleta McCall, ” McCall, Nimrod, ” Megan Shafer, ‘, ’, Jackie Bradley, WISN, ” Bradley, Bradley, you’re, ” Talaya Jones, Talaya Jones, ” Jones, —, Jim Crow, Johnson, Jones, Tasha Dunham, WCVB, wasn’t, ” Dunham Organizations: CNN, Federal, District of Columbia, NAACP, stoke, Black Colleges, Universities, Hampton University, Fisk University, Claflin University, Federal Communications Commission’s, FBI, Justice Department, & Safety, General’s, Louisiana Bureau, Investigation, University of North, Associated Press, New York, University of New, Montgomery County Public Schools, ”, University of Alabama, Missouri State University, Missouri NAACP, Lower, Lower Merion School District, Milwaukee, WISN Locations: New York, California, Hampton , Virginia, Nashville , Tennessee, Orangeburg , South Carolina, TextNow, Louisiana, Poland, Napoleonville , Louisiana, Washington , DC, Virginia , New Jersey , Illinois, Maryland, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, University of New Haven, Montgomery County, Missouri, South Carolina , Massachusetts , Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Lower Merion, Montgomery County , Pennsylvania, Piscataway , New Jersey, United States, Lodi , California, North Carolina

A law enforcement source told NBC News that several branches of the FBI have been deployed, including criminal, cyber and counterintelligence agencies. But the FBI told NBC News that a VPN from another country does not necessarily mean the text messages originated there. Dozens of people across the country have received the racist text messages, including high school and middle school students. She’s among several recipients who were disappointed by the outcome of the presidential election and saw the text messages as salt on an open wound. The association urged anyone receiving spam text messages to forward them to the number 7726 or “SPAM” to report them to their wireless provider.

Persons: ”, Letitia James, Keith Ellison, McCall, Jessica Rosenworcel, Devereaux Adams, Donald Trump, ” Adams, “, Lance Beaudry, TextSpot, ” TextSpot, Beaudry, “ I’m, Liz Murill, Kumi Wolf Kumi Wolf, ” Wolf, Brian Hughes, Trump, Nick Ludlum Organizations: FBI, New York, Minnesota, NBC, NBC News, Federal Communications, Trump, Ohio State University, Clemson University, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Messaging Locations: Atlanta, Georgia, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Louisiana, Poland, Michigan

“Our Executive Slaves will come get you in a Brown Van,” the message read, “be prepared to be searched down once you’ve enter the plantation.”A text message received by Monét Miller. But that day, with the climate and everything going on, I genuinely felt scared.”Black social media users across the country said they have received text messages similar to Miller’s. Various Clemson University students reported receiving the text messages, prompting a public statement from the school. It is unclear who is behind the mass text messages, what motivated them or how they obtained phone numbers for swaths of Black people. Although college students seem to be the most targeted with the texts, Black people of varying ages have reported receiving the messages.

Persons: Monèt Miller, Donald Trump, “, Monét Miller, Monet Miller Miller, ” Miller, Domonique, ” Valles, “ TextNow, ”, Brian Hughes, Trump, ” Hughes, Corryn Freeman, ” Freeman, John Anthony, ” Anthony, ‘ let’s, Miller Organizations: White, Ohio State University, Clemson University, University of Southern, Missouri State University, NBC News, Kappa Alpha Psi, FBI, U.S . Department of Justice, & Safety, Police, “, NAACP, Democrats weren’t, Black Republican, Federal Communications Commission Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, Brown, South Carolina, University of Southern California, Domonique Valles, Virginia, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Illinois, Trump

It was not immediately clear who sent the messages, and there is no complete list of whom they were delivered to. “My initial reaction was probably like disbelief, like I thought it was like a joke,” said Jones, who forwarded the text message to loved ones. The “racist and vile spam text messages” have also spread to Louisiana, Republican state Attorney General Liz Murrill confirmed said Thursday via X. And in Washington, DC, the attorney general’s office also is “aware of racist text messages being sent to residents there, condemning them unequivocally,” spokesperson Gabriel Shoglow-Rubenstein said. If you believe your safety is at risk, please contact local law enforcement,” he said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: ”, Derrick Johnson, ” Donald Trump’s, Karoline Leavitt, TextNow, “, Talaya Jones, Jones, Alysa, Arleta McCall, ” McCall, Liz Murrill, Letitia James, Brown, Sam Burwell, Chloe Smith, Laura Bass, Gabriel Shoglow, Rubenstein, ” TextNow, Alayna Treene, Andy Rose Organizations: CNN, Authorities, NAACP, stoke, & Safety, Federal Communications Commission, FBI, Justice Department, ” University of Alabama, University of Alabama, Republican, Louisiana Bureau, Investigation, ” New York, Montgomery County Public Schools, KHOU, General’s Locations: United States, Alabama, Georgia, Maryland , Michigan , New Jersey , New York, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Nevada, Piscataway , New Jersey, New, Maryland, Montgomery County, Houston, Washington , DC, Hanna

☆ Tips for Canceling Online Subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Many people and groups have filed online comments about the proposed rules. A man in Eugene, Ore., wrote that to cancel TextNow, an app offering messaging and calling services, he ultimately had to persuade his credit union to cut off monthly withdrawals from his account. At issue is the use of “negative option” plans, which presume that consumers accept an offer unless they affirmatively decline it — like a free trial that continues as a paying subscription. advises consumers to put a calendar reminder in their phones when they sign up for a free trial so they will be alerted when it is time to cancel. to require companies to notify customers before each recurring charge, and to remind them that they can cancel if they choose.

Persons: “, MyHeritage, John Breyault, Howard, ”, Breyault Organizations: Companies, National Consumers League Locations: Eugene ,

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