This scam campaign involves fraudulent text messages impersonating Apria Healthcare, a legitimate medical equipment supplier, using the phone number 833-641-6706. The scammers are sending unsolicited text messages to consumers claiming they have outstanding balances that require immediate payment setup.
Community reports reveal the specific tactics employed in this campaign. Recipients receive text messages stating "Hello, this is Apria! Call 833-641-6706 to set up a payment method for your $46.53 balance due. Thank you. Reply STOP to optout. Msg&Data rates may apply." Another variant demands payment for a $223.71 balance. These messages are designed to create urgency and trick consumers into calling the provided number, likely leading to requests for personal financial information or fraudulent payment processing. The Better Business Bureau has classified these communications as phishing attempts targeting Apria customers, with at least one report originating from North Carolina.
While the phone number 833-641-6706 currently shows zero complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission, the community reports indicate active fraudulent activity. The scammers are exploiting the trust associated with Apria Healthcare's brand name to legitimize their fraudulent collection attempts. Consumers who are actual Apria customers may be particularly vulnerable to these deceptive messages, as they might believe they have forgotten about an outstanding balance.
To protect yourself from this and similar scams, always verify payment requests independently by contacting the company directly using official contact information from their website or previous legitimate correspondence. Do not call phone numbers provided in unsolicited text messages or emails. If you receive suspicious messages claiming to be from Apria or any healthcare provider, hang up immediately, do not click any links, and report the incident to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or file a complaint with the FCC. Before responding to any payment requests, check if the phone number or sender is legitimate by searching for it on scam reporting websites or contacting the company through verified channels.
This campaign represents a moderate threat level targeting healthcare consumers through brand impersonation. Consumers should remain vigilant for similar phishing attempts from scammers impersonating medical equipment companies and other healthcare providers. The recommended next step is to report any similar text messages to appropriate authorities and warn others in your network about this specific Apria impersonation scheme.