Luckily, I read about this scam a few weeks ago. Then I got one such message; I wasn't buying! http://imgbox.com/9SUCMhLM
These messages come in waves for me. Maybe it is strategy that if I get them constantly I'll tune them out but 5+ over the course of a couple days once a month might trick me? Occasionally they are very determined to get a response and will add in some level of urgency to the message. One memorable series of messages was that an old friend had come into town and would like to grab dinner after work. When I didn't respond to that I got several more messages that the sender and other friends were concerned that I hadn't responded but could still make the reservation they had. Eventually telling me they'd call for a wellness check or something if I didn't respond.
I'm continuously amazed that people fall for this sort of thing. Does it actually seem normal and reasonable to give thousands of dollars to strangers ???
I have my money parked at various (legitimate) financial institutions, and I don’t personally know any individuals who work there. The marks do not think they are giving money to strangers, they think they are depositing it into their own account and assume the app corresponds to a real brokerage because it is listed on the Apple App Store (per article)
Do the people at those institutions text you as if you were someone else and then say "oh I like meeting new people, what's your name"?
Victims often aren't wiring money to a stranger, they're depositing funds in their own investment account at an institution, merely based on advice from a stranger. Or so they think.