During a week of military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran, the U.S. Army is issuing a fraud alert after young adults across the country began receiving startling messages about a military draft.
"Hello, we are contacting you in regards to the United States official Army draft,” said 18 year old Chase Taylor, reading from a text he received earlier this week. "We tried contacting you through mail several times and have had no response. You've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in the Minneapolis area for immediate departure."
Taylor is not planning to enlist in the military after graduation, but he did comply with federal law by registering for the Selective Service after turning 18 last year.
"I just kind of froze,” Taylor said. “I didn't know what to do. I just was like, is this actually happening?”
Though he knew there hadn’t been a military draft in decades, he says he was concerned because the text coincided with escalating military tensions with Iran.
"That's the first thing I thought of. I was like, is this for what's going on now?" Taylor said. "Maybe this isn't a joke."
According to U.S. Army Recruiting Command the text is one of several fake draft messages that have been sent to young people nationwide. Though the messages are all similar, some also threaten jail time if the recipient doesn’t reply.
But the goal of the messages isn't clear. Unlike most scams, the phone number it directs people to is for an actual military recruiting center.
A representative with U.S. Army Recruiting Command says Army security personnel are looking into the origin of the messages. In the meantime, they are reminding people that Congress and the President would need to pass official legislation in order to authorize a real draft.
“They're scaring young adults and teenagers,” Taylor said. “Scaring them for their life almost."
Unrelated texts from National Guard are valid
The Minnesota Army National Guard says they did send a text blast to teens who attend several area school this weekend, but the content does not contain any threatening language or a military draft.
Here’s an example:
LTC Eduardo Suarez: "It's a good way to get your message out and at least create initial curiosity about the National Guard.”
Kent Erdahl: "Do you get those phone lists from the schools?"
LTC Suarez: "From the high schools, correct. It's just odd timing, the fact that we had done ours just this past weekend. I think the important thing is to make people understand what's legitimate and what's not."
Kent: "In this case, if you're getting reached out to by a National Guard recruiter, it is legitimate?"
LTC Suarez: "It is. Our messages highlighted the National Guard, the name of the recruiter and a contact number, so it's a very simple message that went out."