Buzzfeed News obtained screenshots of these fraudulent drafting notices indicating recipients were marked "as eligible and must come to the nearest branch...for immediate departure to Iran."
The U.S. Army warned people on Tuesday about the fraudulent draft notices after Army officials first heard from concerned parents and recruiters on Monday.
No, You're Not Being Drafted. US Army Warns About Fake Texts About Draft https://t.co/m0FtNSkIqW— Newsradio WTAM 1100 (@Newsradio WTAM 1100) 1578585517.0
Below are the screenshots provided by the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
The first text was received by people living in the Jacksonville, Florida, area.
US Army Recruiting Command
The text reads:
"United States Official Army Draft, we tried contacting you through mail several times and have had no response."
"You've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in Jacksonville Florida area for immediate departure to Iran."
"Please contact us at the following number and respond to this message immediately."
"...We're aware that this number is not disconnected, you'll be fined and sent to jail for minimum 6 years if no reply."
The second screenshot is a variation of the same notice but addressing residents living in New Jersey
US Army Recruiting Command
"Hello, we are contracting you in regards to the United States Official army draft, we tried contacting you through your email several times and have had no response."
"You've been marked eligible and must come to the nearest branch in the New Jersey Area for immediate departure to Iran."
"Please contact us at the following number immediate."
US Army Recruiting Command (USARC) media relations chief Lisa Ferguson told Buzzfeed:
"We don't have any way of knowing if some areas are receiving more texts than others unless we were to query all 1,400 recruiting stations and more than 10,000 recruiters."
The USARC assured that the U.S. Army "is NOT contacting anyone regarding the draft."
Twitter had various reactions to the fake draft, including those who saw humor in gullible people.
@ABC This is actually a really good idea, lol. “You have been selected for service. Please report within 10 days or… https://t.co/1ib60OOhwH— Dolewite (@Dolewite) 1578553862.0
@ABC We should have a draft. President Chump’s kids should be first. No more rich man’s war poor man’s fight.— Hotspur (@Hotspur) 1578557253.0
@KTLA Anyone that falls for that should be sent to Iran anyway— Fern Varela (@Fern Varela) 1578513094.0
@CNN Anyone who reports for duty after receiving one of those text messages should be seen by doctors, and for thei… https://t.co/nzCdzhcxfC— Dungfaced (@Dungfaced) 1578552179.0
@CNN I'm laughing so hard. I don't know what's funnier, getting drafted by text or the idea of grandma getting draf… https://t.co/n4O0cytIgg— Jeff Wagar 🇨🇦 (@Jeff Wagar 🇨🇦) 1578552385.0
@CNN The last people the military needs are those who fall for this scam— Scottergate (@Scottergate) 1578569100.0
@FOXLA https://t.co/Foh53CCwhM— Herbert (@Herbert) 1578583894.0
According to these texts, training is the least of their concerns when the Army needs recruits sent to Iran NOW.
@KTLA Too late. I’m already on a plane headed to Tehran..... https://t.co/z13b7GMUFY— Mr & Mrs Brotein (@Mr & Mrs Brotein) 1578521925.0
Others reminded the public that the Army does not reach out to you through a text.
Military draft: US Army warns about fake text messages. Let's be super clear about this, if a draft was instated,… https://t.co/nJbwTEDW69— Red T Raccoon (@Red T Raccoon) 1578512878.0
@RedTRaccoon To be clear, the ARMY itself may not text you but at least some otheir recruiters DO! My 19 year old s… https://t.co/EHsUGTLO9J— Leslie Cidale (@Leslie Cidale) 1578513209.0
@CNN US Army will NEVER text you for your password. If you receive such a text please proceed to your local recruit… https://t.co/zjs4IOERrk— double selfies 4 all (@double selfies 4 all) 1578552508.0
The USARC website also clarified that the Selective Service System is the official U.S. government agency that manages registration and maintains records of people who are eligible for conscription.
Fact check: The U.S. Army is NOT contacting anyone regarding the draft. If you are receiving texts, phone calls or… https://t.co/kZVhhTsN5G— U.S. Army CGSC (@U.S. Army CGSC) 1578491108.0
Memes and jokes about people potentially getting drafted for World War III began circulating after General Qassem Soleimani was killed on January 3, 2020, in a targeted U.S. drone strike approved by U.S. President Donald Trump.
When the US government asks for my birth certificate so they can draft me for #WW3 https://t.co/fgp1lrhbPz— J.V. 🇵🇷 (@J.V. 🇵🇷) 1578023196.0
Me meeting my homies in prison after we all refused the draft for WWIII https://t.co/VmV2gbbgT2— 𝔸𝕕𝕒𝕞‼️ (@𝔸𝕕𝕒𝕞‼️) 1578024783.0
When your laughing at #WW3 memes all day and get a text that you’ve been drafted to #WW3 https://t.co/jItxpCwfm4— Erin Montoya (@Erin Montoya) 1578434013.0
The USARC website states that the draft "has not been in effect since 1973," when it was used for the Vietnam War.
"The military has been an all-volunteer force since that time. Registering for the Selective Service does not enlist a person into the military."
The Selective Service tweeted that they are "conducting business as usual."
The Selective Service System is conducting business as usual. In the event that a national emergency necessitates a… https://t.co/jiJ2yOtlXp— Selective Service (@Selective Service) 1578066494.0
Those who are interested in volunteering to serve for the U.S. Army, however, can contact a local Army recruiting office.