This fake discount text message is targeting phone users. Here’s how I spotted it.
I was given a text message this evening that almost surprised me and I would like to share what I was able to find before some other person becomes a victim to it.
The message came from phone number +1 (470) 674-5227. It claimed I could get an exclusive discount by using the coupon code mida-305 at checkout. The text included a link to midasafricanfood.co.uk/shop and urged me to shop and save.
Official Website lookout:
Something Felt Wrong About This Message
The text message was riddled with problems. The first thing I noticed was the random phone number. No legitimate business sends discount codes from unknown personal numbers.
The message mentioned using the mida-305 code on midasafricanfood.co.uk. But why would an African food website send codes for a completely different shopping platform? This makes no sense.
The ending said “save! AT&T values shop and save!” which is complete gibberish. It looks like the scammer copied random text or used a bot to generate the message.
The site midasafricanfood.co.uk has a domain name of the United Kingdom but the phone number belongs to the United States geographical area of 470 (Georgia). This is a significant indicator of a mismatch.
I Decided to Investigate Further
I search for midasafricanfood.co.uk to check if it was a legitimate business. I found no verified company information. No customer reviews. No social media presence. Nothing trustworthy.
I also searched for the mida-305 coupon code. There was no mention of it on any official retailer website.
This text message is a scam.
Red Flags That Exposed the mida-305 Scam
| Warning Sign | What I Found |
|---|---|
| Sender Number | Random +1 (470) 674-5227 not business number |
| Message Content | Confusing mix of MIDAS AFRICAN FOOD |
| Gibberish Text | “AT&T values shop and save” makes no sense |
| Website Domain | UK domain .co.uk from US phone number |
| Coupon Code | mida-305 not found on any real website |
| Link Format | Suspicious midasafricanfood.co.uk/shop |
| No Branding | No official logos or company verification |
| Unsolicited Text | I never signed up for this service |
How to Stay Safe from This Scam
Do not click the link in this text message. Do not visit website mentioned in any notification. Do not try to use the mida-305 code. Do not reply to the phone number.
If you receive this text, delete it immediately. Block the number +1 (470) 674-5227. Tell your family and friends about this mida-305 scam. Many people might click thinking they are getting a real discount.
Legitimate businesses send texts from verified shortcodes or official numbers. Scammers use random phone numbers to trick people.
