**Scam Texts Flood LA: Millions at Risk as SIM Farms Discovered**

URGENT UPDATE: Millions of scam texts are overwhelming residents in Los Angeles as authorities confirm that these fraudulent messages are costing Americans nearly $500 million annually. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that these scams are proliferating, with a significant portion originating from Southern California.

Cybersecurity expert Been Coon, from the firm Unit221B, is at the forefront of tracking this alarming trend. He reveals that the surge in scam texts is largely due to operations known as SIM farms. These farms consist of multiple SIM boxes that can contain thousands of SIM cards, enabling scammers to send millions of texts in mere minutes.

Coon states, “I could logically put together in my head the ability to send out millions of text messages in a few minutes, depending on how big the farm is.” Currently, he has identified around 45 SIM farms across the United States, with four located in the Los Angeles area. This means that some of the scam texts hitting your phone could be originating from your own neighborhood.

The Secret Service has issued a warning about the dark implications of these SIM farms. Just weeks ago, federal agents dismantled a network of SIM farms in New York City that had the potential to disrupt cell phone services across the metropolis. Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool stated, “This network had the potential to dismantle cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cell phone network in New York City.”

For those receiving these scam texts, the message is clear: do not click on any links or share sensitive information without verifying the source. Coon emphasizes the importance of caution, saying, “That’s a huge inconvenience, but it’s better than losing access to your credit card and losing $100,000 from your savings account.”

Coon explains that many of these operations involve shipping SIM farm equipment illegally into the U.S. and hiring local individuals to set them up. However, he notes that law enforcement is increasingly taking action, with efforts to shut down these farms happening as quickly as they appear.

As this situation continues to develop, residents are urged to remain vigilant against these scams and report any suspicious messages. Stay tuned to ABC7 for live updates and in-depth reporting on this urgent issue.

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