588 area code sends message to others in a group chat that MY cell number has left the group

588 area code number sends message to others in an existing group text message mixed with iPhone & Android users that my phone (iPhone) number has left the group and provides a link to start a new group Text. Also provides a link to add the 588 number to your contacts!? I did not initiate this and did not see this action on my phone. I have run thru the Clone phone check out with good results. Why is this happening?

Accepted answers

There is no need for concern with receiving any messages regarding the 588 area code. Verizon is currently in the process of sunsetting the Message+ application.

As a result, while we do system maintenance before the shutdown of Message+, other participants in your group texts may see messages with a 588 area code stating that your number has “left the group”.

Sorry for any alarm this may have caused, but rest assured, it is of no concern. For additional information, please see our FAQs.

All comments

Hello- people in my contacts are receiving a text message telling them that my cell # has “left the group” . Then that message is followed by multiple V- cards with sequential 588 area code numbers. Is this still Verizon’s way of “flagging” someone who doesn’t use Message+? I am not a new Verizon customer.

thanks-

others receive message my phone number has left the group chat

I have same thing going on, now many of my contacts cannot text me or I them? Looking for help on this as well

vzw_customer_support

Thank you for reaching out to us fzshcg01. What messaging application are you using? Are you experiencing issues with any of your other messages or is it just the group message?

~Ivone

I'm using the standard Apple "Messages" Social Networking application on my iPhone. This is happening to two existing text groups, at least that is what I have been alerted to. Both are not new text groups and contain a mixture of iPhones and Android devices.

Thank you for reaching out to us fzshcg01. What messaging application are you using? Are you experiencing issues with any of your other messages or is it just the group message?

~Ivone

vzw_customer_support

@fzshcg01
wrote: I'm using the standard Apple "Messages" Social Networking applicati on on my iPhone. This is happening to two existing text groups, at least that is what I have been alerted to. Both are not new text groups and contain a mixture of iPhones and Android devices.

Thank you for sharing those details with us today. That is indeed strange behavior, and I would share your same concern if I were having the same trouble with my iPhone in a group message. We would like to help gather some more details. When did this issue first start happening? What, if anything, changed with your device/service/etc. before this issue first started?

-Joseph

I was notified that I began this morning around 0800am PST. I have not added or changed anything on my phone and it is currently running iOS 17.3.1

This happened with people I know today, too. My wife received two text from two different 588 area codes stating my number had left a group. A friend of mine received similar texts from two different 588 area code numbers saying my number left a group. And at least two other friends received similar messages as well.

vzw_customer_support

Thanks for the update. Do you know what number the message is coming from? As far as the group chats, have you selected the option to leave either of the chats?

-Lauren

vzw_customer_support

Hello, DEH3. Thank you for this info. Just to confirm, are you leaving the group chat? Are you able to provide a screenshot of what you see? Any updates available for the app?

-Natasha

This has also started happening to me today too. I just had 2 people tell me they received this message.

I did not attempt to leave any of the text group and would not know of this unless those within the text group notified me of these messages to leave a group.

The group advised me that the request came from the following 588 numbers:

(588)938-9388; (588)937-6363; (588)937-6358

Based on the number of Verizon customers reporting this type of issue, is there any news on what we should be doing and/or if our phone has been hacked?

I’m having a similar issue. However I don’t get the text. My contacts do. Here’s a screenshot

vzw_customer_support

We want to make sure we are able to help out, and would like to clarify this situation. Is this showing up on a particular application?

~Freddy

vzw_customer_support

@janm1959
wrote: I have same thing going on, now many of my contacts cannot text me or I them? Looking for help on this as well

That is certainly a cause for concern if you're not able to receive text messages from contacts that were previously able to reach you. What happens on their end when they try to send you a message? What happens if they try to call your phone?

-Joseph

vzw_customer_support

Hello Dixie228, we're sorry youre having issues. Unfortunately we were unable to view the image you provided us with. Can you please elaborate further on your situation and describe the image?

~Ivone

I am having the same thing occur. How can we post a screen shot on here ?

Both myself and my daughter received identical texts from 588-938-9362 notifying us that my other daughter's number as Family: has left the group. We all use different Android phones, all on Verizon. All regular and grp texting seems to continue to work fine. No other issues just these strange msgs. I believe we all use different apps for msging too, not Message+.

My parents informed me they both received the exact same message. one has an iPhone and one has a Galaxy S23, on a different network.

Same. Got a string of messages this evening. They’re coming to my iPhone, but not to my husband’s android for groups we are both a part of.

I am having this problem too. In my family's group chat, we have notification that one las left chat (even though no action was taken on my family's part) and on my mom's phone, this notification is from a 588 number.

vzw_customer_support

Hello, ANNE611, thanks for reaching out about this notification. Do you happen to know what messaging app your parents are using?Is this happening with a specific group chat?

-Lauren

vzw_customer_support

Hello, KH7105, thanks for those details surrounding your group messages. You mentioned you and your husband are a part of the same group chats but only you are getting this notification. Are you both using the same messaging app? Are you receiving a notification for all of your group messages?

-Lauren

My parents are both using the stock text messaging app on their phones - they are on US Cellular. My brother who is also on their plan, also got a text from the same number about me leaving a group with he and his wife (also on the same plan).

There is a "group" chat with my parents and I , which we were using this last week. There is also a larger family group chat with my brother, SIL and their daughter but we rarely use that, maybe just around holidays.

Hello - I am having the same issues. A friend of mine who is in group text with me, sent me a screen shot showing a person in my contacts ( a cousin an android user l) had left the group. Neither of them are in the same group chat. The cousin is in other chats with me though. My friend and I both have iPhones. Family members (mixed android/iPhone users) who are in the same group chat with the cousin also got the same text. Also from a 588 number

Of am fearful that my phone was hacked and worry about other people I’m im contact with via text would also be hacked

vzw_customer_support

Hello, Swanny12, thanks for reaching out in reference to the group text notification. You mentioned users that are in a group chat with you have received a notification about leaving the group chat. Have you received the same notification?

-Lauren

Verizonandroidgirl

I am having this issue too. I used to use the Message+ app. Now I use Google Messages. I have a Samsung Galaxy phone. I received a text on 2-13-24 from (588) 938-7599 that someone left a group chat. On 2-20-24 I received a text from (588) 938-7602 that someone left a group chat. On 2-21-24 my 3 kids who are on my Verizon plan with iPhone 15 received over 13 messages each that I left a group chat and that I was removed as the admin. I had 3 other people tell me that they also received multiple texts each on 2-21-24 that I left a group chat and was removed as the admin. I was not notified via text of these other than from my friends. I have used my cell phone for many years for work with many different people and with my kids' school sports and class events. How do I know if anyone else has received such a text? Why is this happening? How can I find the group chats and delete them? Please help me!

#588 area code

#leave group chat

[edited for privacy]

vzw_customer_support

Swanny12, thank you very much for the details. From what we've gathered, these messages were random. If you're still able to send and receive group messages, please don't be alarmed. If you're unable to send or receive messages from those individuals, please let us know and we can troubleshoot.

~Jesse

vzw_customer_support

Good Morning Cdcd100! Yes you can post screenshots. A picture is worth a thousand words.

-Deb

vzw_customer_support

It's worrying to see you are xperiencing issues with your text messages. Please tell us, is this impacting all contacts and group messages? is this impacting all messaging apps? ~Geo

Verizon - we are very concerned. Is this a security issue, or what's happening?

I am using Google Messages app on a Verizon Samsung S23 Ultra. Messages are going to iphone users. See screenshots.

#588

#leftgroupchat

I am having this same issue with my MIL's phone and we all got texts about her being removed. I am on the chat with a rep and referenced this forum thread and they have no idea what I am talking about. What is going on?!?

vzw_customer_support

Thanks for reaching out, Chuck2024, about the 588 area code with the group messages. This occurs when a member of the group text is a non Messages+ user. Have you tried to group message from a different text app?

-Deb

Several people received a text, multiple times, saying :

1st message: GH Flight: +xxxxxxx (my cell number) has left the group. t

2nd message JXXXXXXX (my first name) as removed XXXXXXXXX (my cell number) has changed the group admins. You can use this contact card to update the group profile.

3rd message is a vcard attachment contact card titled "123_1.vcard" 4 kb

Should I be worried? I did not do anything and have never seen this vcard.

Had same problem on 2/20/24. Four different 588 area code numbers sent to everyone in my family group. All 588 numbers included attachments. Chatted with a few very friendly Verizon agents today. First agent said, "... we do not proactively send those kind of messages or any message in that way." Sounds like they're unclear why it's happening. Looking forward to hearing a definitive explanation from Verizon.

vzw_customer_support

Hello, being on top of our account is crucial, especially if you are encountering messaging issues. Verizon is here to help.

When did the issue start? What recent changes have you made? What messaging app are you using?

~Gilbert

vzw_customer_support

Thanks for that information, ANNE611. What messaging app are you using?

-Lauren

Just had this happen. 2 of our business accounts. Text was sent to a Non Verizon customer. I text w frequently. The other person who this also happened to... Has numerous people contacting him, over the same TEXT. I After researching this, apparently this is a KNOWN ISSUE w Verizon going back at least 5 years??? I could NOT find an explanation n more importantly a resolution!

Everyone in my family group chat is experiencing the same thing, 25 different Verizon customers using iPhone and Android devices. I am also experiencing the same problem in all the groups I have created whether they are family, other friends or business associates. The 588 number is aways followed by "937" and the final four digits of the number increment by one each time I receive a message: 5875, 5876, 5877, 5879, 5880, 5881 .

I have to say that I am somewhat annoyed by Verizon's innocuous responses in this thread. It seems we are chatting with a poorly fashioned AI robot that has no clue as to what's going on. I called Verizon yesterday about this and the rep I spoke with exhibited the same response to me, asking me what apps folks are using and responding to me with deep sighs whenever I told her that we simply use the "boxed" text messaging app for whatever flavor of iPhone or Android we are using.

I am concerned that this provides a vector for security compromise such as identity theft and other loss.

Verizon...please get to the bottom of this, we all spend far too much money for this type treatment from you!

vzw_customer_support

Thank you for the information. Does this happen after a message is sent from your device or is it at random times of the day? Have you tried clearing out any other texting apps from your device? ~Peter

vzw_customer_support

Hello, AlanaC1, thanks for reaching out. What messaging app are you and your family members using for text?

-Lauren

This was intended for "Deb" in a different related thread (it appears it was in chat string 6 among all related to these weird text messages from 588 area code0. The community software moved my message to a different chat thread as I posted it.

Bingo! I think you have provided the best explanation. I WAS using Verizon Message + for a long time and was creating groups with it. I've been using Google Messages for many weeks or months. I recently replaced my Samsung Android with another Samsung phone. It appears some sort of timer elapsed and Verizon decided to sunset the groups.

YOU deserve a commendation for explaining the problem. Verizon should do a better job investigating problems like this and publicizing the explanation in the many other threads where people are having this problem.

We don't have a family text group but now 3 family members have gotten the same text that various member have left the group by phone number. Today we got one that the main Verizon number on the account was no longer the group manager. I understand it is a phishing text, as it tell you to verify but it is only family on our account. Any ideas? We did change password but still very weird.

We do not have a group message called Family. Two of us use Messages and two use Message+. Three have Samsung and one has iPhone

I’ve been receiving group text messages as of lately from 588 936 9539 with messages saying a certain number has left the group. What is going on? I have an iPhone 12 and I use the standard Apple messaging app.

I have a similar issue, but on the other end where I am receiving a text from 588-936-6538 saying: "group: +1[phone number removed for privacy] has left the group."

The phone number that "left the group" is one of my contacts; it uses their number and not their contact name listed in my phone.

I asked said contact and they said they had no idea what it was about and they didn't know that number. For what it's worth, they had not gotten any notifications.

@RalphTamlyn
What was the problem? I just started receiving these 588 messages, and can't find any information as to why. 🤷🏼‍

vzw_customer_support

Hello, PeacePlease. Help is here as we can assist with your concerns on the 588 code you are seeing. With Messages+, anyone using this application who are also adding those to the group message that DO NOT use Messages+ are assigned a 588 number as a default location. This is part of the application's function and working properly.

-Natasha

vzw_customer_support

Hello, being on top of your service is crucial, especially if you are managing your group chats. Verizon is here to help.

When did the issue start? What recent changes have you made? Have you used any other messaging services? Did a particular number actually leave the group chat?

~Gilbert

vzw_customer_support

Hello, we are truly sorry to see this messaging issue has been happening to two of your business accounts. Our goal is to offer the support you need. For further assistance please contact our Business Team, through any of the venues found on this link: https://www.verizon.com/business/contact/. They will provide the aid you need.

~Gilbert

A friend received this weird text with my phone number on it. Has anyone experienced this?

@Weirdone
wrote:
A friend received this weird text with my phone number on it. Has anyone experienced this?

Can you say what the text message is? Your picture does not display properly.

vzw_customer_support

We're sorry to read about the issue with the texts in the group. Have you tried to create a new group? ~Peter

No I haven't created a new group because I'm no longer using Verizon Message+ app. This is only happening with older groups created on that app. For some reason that app thinks I've "left the group" and is sending 588 ph texts to all other members in that group. It is also sending them a link to click to adjust their profile in that group. It seems to be a way to solicit new users to message+ . I now have to tell all group members that i haven't left the group.

It's something with Verizon Messages+ where if some users are using it and others aren't in a MMS, then the (588) number comes up with a message saying someone left the group. Nobody seems to have a clear resolution for it as there's a big thread elsewhere with a lot of posts. I'm calling it a glitch which will go away on its own when Messages+ sunsets in June?

There is no need for concern with receiving any messages regarding the 588 area code. Verizon is currently in the process of sunsetting the Message+ application.

As a result, while we do system maintenance before the shutdown of Message+, other participants in your group texts may see messages with a 588 area code stating that your number has “left the group”.

Sorry for any alarm this may have caused, but rest assured, it is of no concern. For additional information, please see our FAQs.

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