The text scam

I received the following text message when I turned my cell phone on yesterday.

"Dear Walmart shopper, Congratulations you have just won a $1000 Walmart Gift Card. Click here toclaim your gift. www.SpecialWmart.com (STOP2end)" The number originating the text came up as 949-981-5773

Well, it's an obvious scam, of course. In the first place I have never given my cell phone number to WalMart in any way, shape, or form. Therefore, they would not have my cell phone available to them. I guard the heck out of my cell phone number since I am charged 25 cents per minute for each call. I am not sure how text messages are treated.
In the second place, Walmart does not advertise this way. No rational company would. It's like those menus from eateries or the real estate ads you find on the Fax machines at work. if you have to advertise that way, you are very desperate.

I called the number but it just rang until it clicked into a recording that said the number did not yet have a voice mail box set up.

Researching this showed that the text is being sent all over the country and shown coming from many different numbers.

It's a pity we cannot simply blanket refuse text messages on our cell phones or block certain numbers. I would love to have the former option.

You see, I do not text. I am an old guy and texting is much harder on me than simply talking. Plus, I do not have one of those smart phones which have keyboards. Even if I did, I wouldn't use it. I have enough trouble with the keyboard on my tablet.