A text message from the 99467 short code is most likely a legitimate, automated communication from Cox Communications, a major US internet and cable provider. However, this does not mean the message is automatically safe. Scammers frequently impersonate major companies like Cox in sophisticated “smishing” (SMS phishing) attacks. The content and intent of the message, not just the sender’s number, are what ultimately determine its authenticity.
This definitive guide provides a complete breakdown of the 99467 short code. It will explain what the code is, who uses it, and how to determine if a specific 99467 text message you received is a genuine notification or a dangerous scam. Furthermore, this report will clarify common points of confusion and provide a step-by-step action plan to stop unwanted texts and report malicious activity.
The Core Explanation: What Is the 99467 Short Code?
First, What Is an SMS Short Code?
An SMS short code is a special 5- or 6-digit phone number that businesses and organizations use to send and receive a high volume of text messages. These numbers are designed to be shorter and easier to remember than standard 10-digit phone numbers, facilitating mass communication for purposes like marketing promotions, account alerts, two-factor authentication codes, and customer service updates. The primary advantage of a short code is its high throughput, which allows a company to send thousands of messages per second—a capability far beyond that of a regular phone number.
In the United States, these codes are leased to businesses through a governing body that works with wireless carriers to ensure compliance with industry regulations designed to prevent spam. This regulated system creates a legitimate and efficient channel for companies to communicate with customers who have opted in. However, this very system inadvertently creates a vulnerability. As consumers become accustomed to receiving valid texts from these unusual 5- or 6-digit numbers, they may lower their guard. This normalization of short code communication provides an opening for scammers, who exploit this trust to make their fraudulent messages appear more legitimate.
To better understand their function, it is helpful to compare short codes directly with the standard 10-digit numbers, often called “long codes.”
| Feature | Short Code | Long Code |
| Length | 5-6 digits | Standard 10 digits |
| Primary Purpose | High-volume, one-to-many business communication (alerts, marketing) | Low-volume, person-to-person communication |
| Message Speed (Throughput) | Very high (thousands per second) | Very low (limited messages per second) |
| Cost | Expensive to lease | Cost-effective (included in standard messaging plans) |
| Vetting Process | Strict carrier approval process to prevent spam | No vetting required |
So, Who Specifically Uses the 99467 Short Code?
The most direct available evidence indicates that the 99467 short code is used by Cox Communications. This finding originates from online community discussions where users have confirmed the number’s association with Cox.
It is important to acknowledge, however, that the specific number 99467 may not appear in all official Cox support documentation. This discrepancy does not necessarily invalidate the community reports. Large corporations frequently utilize multiple short codes for different departments, marketing campaigns, service regions, or specific types of alerts. The 99467 code could be a newer number, a legacy one, or a code designated for a purpose not covered in general help articles. This informational gap highlights a crucial point: it is unsafe to rely solely on the sender’s number for verification. The only secure approach is to treat any unsolicited message with skepticism and independently verify its claims through a trusted channel, such as by logging into your official Cox account on their website or mobile app.
Why Would I Get a Text from Cox if I’m Not a Customer?
Receiving a text from a company you don’t do business with is a common and confusing experience. The most probable cause for this is simple human error. The previous owner of your current phone number may have been a Cox customer and failed to update their contact information. Alternatively, a current Cox customer may have accidentally mistyped their own phone number during signup or in their account settings, inadvertently entering yours instead.
These text message systems are automated and send notifications to whatever number is on file, without any way of knowing who currently possesses that number. This is a frequent, non-malicious reason for receiving a legitimate text message that was intended for someone else.
The Deep Dive: Is Your 99467 Text Message a Scam?
While the 99467 number itself may be legitimately associated with Cox, the message you receive could still be a dangerous “smishing” (SMS phishing) attack. This form of fraud is alarmingly common and effective, costing U.S. consumers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The scale of the problem is immense; Americans receive billions of spam texts every month.
The Scammer’s Goal: What They Want From You
The objective of a smishing attack is to deceive you into divulging sensitive personal information. Scammers craft messages designed to trick you into providing data such as account passwords, bank account numbers, credit card details, PINs, and even your Social Security number. Once they obtain this information, they can use it to gain access to your accounts, steal your money, make fraudulent purchases, or sell your identity to other criminals on the dark web.
Red Flag Checklist: 10 Signs Your Text Is a Scam
To protect yourself, scrutinize any unsolicited 99467 text message for the following warning signs.
- Creates a False Sense of Urgency: The message pressures you to act immediately by claiming your service will be disconnected, your account is locked, or you have a very limited time to claim a reward. Example: “Cox Alert: Your account is flagged for suspicious activity. Log in within 2 hours to avoid suspension: [malicious link]”
- Promises Unbelievable Rewards: It offers free prizes, gift cards, or a special deal that seems too good to be true. Example: “As a loyal Cox customer, you’ve won a free iPhone 15! Click here to claim your prize: [malicious link]”
- Asks You to Click a Strange Link: The central component of most smishing attacks is a malicious link designed to steal your data. These links often lead to “spoofed” websites that mimic the look of a legitimate site but are controlled by scammers.
- Requests Personal or Financial Information Directly: A legitimate company like Cox will never ask for your password, full credit card number, or Social Security number via text message.
- Contains Spelling and Grammar Errors: While scammers are getting more sophisticated, many fraudulent texts are still riddled with poor grammar and misspellings, a classic indicator of a hastily crafted scam.
- Refers to a Fake Problem: The text might mention a fake invoice, a failed payment, or a package delivery issue you weren’t expecting. Example: “Cox Billing: Your recent payment of $145.99 has failed. Please update your payment information to avoid service interruption: [malicious link]”
- Comes From an Unexpected Sender: Even if it claims to be from a company you know, if you were not anticipating a message, you should treat it with extreme suspicion.
- Mentions a Fake Job Offer: A common scam involves offering a high-paying, flexible job with little effort required. This is often a gateway to an advance-fee scam or a parcel mule scam.
- Asks You to Share a Verification Code: In this attack, a scammer uses your leaked credentials to try and log into one of your real accounts. This triggers a two-factor authentication (2FA) code to be sent to your phone. The scammer then contacts you, pretending to be from the company, and tries to trick you into reading that code back to them, giving them access.
- The Message is Irrelevant to You: If you are not a Cox customer and the message refers to “your account,” it is almost certainly a scam designed to be sent out en masse.
A key reason these scams are so effective is their ability to capitalize on pure chance. A scammer can send a million texts about a “Cox payment issue.” Even if only a small fraction of recipients are actual Cox customers, that still means tens of thousands of people will receive a message that seems plausible and relevant to them. This is why the golden rule is to never trust, always verify separately. Never use a link or phone number provided in an unsolicited text; instead, go directly to the company’s official website or app to check on the supposed issue.
Clearing Up Confusion: What 99467 Is NOT
A general web search for “99467” can yield highly confusing and unrelated results. By debunking these other contexts, it becomes clear what the 99467 text message is not related to.
Myth #1: It’s a Stock Market Ticker or Financial Figure
When searching for the number 99467, users will likely encounter headlines and data from the financial world. For instance, the number 99,467 has appeared in news reports as the quantity of shares purchased in a company or as a trading volume figure for an ADR.
It is crucial to understand that these are numerical coincidences. In these financial contexts, the number refers to a quantity of shares or a trade volume figure. It has absolutely no connection to an SMS short code.
Myth #2: It’s a Medical Billing Code (CPT Code 99467)
The number 99467 is also an officially designated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code, used within the United States healthcare system for billing. Specifically, CPT Code 99467 is defined as “Critical care face-to-face services, during an interfacility transport of critically ill or critically injured pediatric patient, 24 months of age or younger; each additional 30 minutes”.
This code is used exclusively by medical professionals to bill for a very specific service. Receiving a text from the 99467 short code has no relationship to this medical procedure, and it does not mean you are being billed for healthcare services.
Your Action Plan: Practical Steps for Handling a 99467 Text
This section provides a clear, step-by-step guide on what to do when you receive a text from 99467 or any other suspicious number.
Step 1: How to Stop Unwanted Texts Instantly (The “STOP” Command)
The most direct method for opting out of legitimate, but unwanted, short code messages is to reply with a simple command.
Simply reply to the text message with the single word STOP. This command is a requirement mandated by mobile carriers. All legitimate businesses using short codes must honor this request and cease messaging you. Upon sending the command, you should receive an automated confirmation message that you have been unsubscribed.
Note that this method only works for legitimate services. Scammers will ignore the “STOP” command. Furthermore, replying to a scammer in any way confirms that your phone number is active, which can lead to an increase in spam. Therefore, this command should only be used when you believe the sender is a real company.
Step 2: How to Report Spam to Your Carrier (Forward to 7726)
For messages you believe are scams, the best immediate action is to report them to your mobile carrier using the universal short code 7726, which spells SPAM on a phone keypad.
- Do not click any links or reply directly to the suspicious message.
- Copy the entire text of the fraudulent message.
- Forward that copied message to the number 7726.
This action reports the offending message directly to your wireless provider (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile). These companies use this data to identify and block fraudulent senders at the network level.
Step 3: How to File an Official Complaint (Report to the FTC)
Reporting fraud to federal authorities is a critical step in the broader fight against these criminal activities. Your report provides valuable data that helps law enforcement track trends and build cases against perpetrators.
You can file an official complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at their dedicated website: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also file complaints with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which also regulates illegal text messages.
Bonus Step: How to Verify Who Owns Any Short Code
To empower yourself with more information, you can research who has leased a particular short code. The official registry for this is the U.S. Short Code Directory, which can be accessed at www.usshortcodes.com. On the website, you can use the search function to enter the 5- or 6-digit number and see which company has registered it.
Keep in mind that while this directory can tell you the legitimate lessee of a code, it cannot confirm if a specific message you received is a scam, as criminals can “spoof” or fake sender information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question 1: Who uses the 99467 short code?
The 99467 short code is reportedly used by Cox Communications for automated text message alerts. However, because scammers can fake sender information, you should always be cautious and verify any suspicious message directly with Cox through their official website or customer service number.
Question 2: Is a text from 99467 always safe?
No. While the code itself may be leased by a legitimate company, scammers can impersonate them. Never trust a message based on the sender’s number alone. Look for red flags like urgent warnings, requests for personal information, or suspicious links. When in doubt, do not click or reply.
Question 3: How can I permanently block messages from a short code?
For legitimate companies, replying “STOP” should permanently end messages from that specific short code. For spam or scam messages, you can use your phone’s built-in blocking feature. Additionally, reporting the message to your carrier by forwarding it to 7726 helps them block the sender at the network level.
Question 4: What should I do if I accidentally clicked a link in a scam text?
Do not panic, but act quickly. Do not enter any information on the website that opens. Disconnect your device from the internet to prevent further data transmission. Run a malware scan using a reputable antivirus app. Immediately change the passwords for any accounts you think may be compromised, especially your email and banking accounts. Finally, monitor your financial statements and credit reports closely for any suspicious activity.
Conclusion
The evidence strongly suggests that the 99467 short code is used by Cox Communications for customer notifications. However, this fact is often obscured by confusing search results pertaining to financial figures and medical billing codes. More importantly, the legitimacy of the code itself does not guarantee the safety of any message sent from it. The ever-present threat of smishing means that all unsolicited texts must be treated with skepticism.
The most critical advice is to verify, don’t trust. Never click on suspicious links or provide information in response to a text message. Instead, use the simple but powerful tools at your disposal: reply STOP to legitimate but unwanted senders, forward spam to 7726 to alert your carrier, and report fraud to the FTC to aid law enforcement. In today’s digital world, your phone is a gateway for both convenience and crime. By staying informed and skeptical, you can confidently navigate your inbox and protect your personal information.
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