Army warning of fake texts telling people they’ve been drafted

The U.S. Army is warning Americans not believe any text messages they receive that say that they’ve been drafted.

The Army’s recruiting wing said in an “urgent” statement on Tuesday that “fraudulent text messages informing individuals they have been selected for a military draft have circulated throughout the country this week.”

It noted that U.S. Army Recruiting Command does not have the authority to enact the draft. 

The Selective Service System — which is separate from the Department of Defense — handles draft registrations.

According to the Selective Service System’s Facebook page, the agency is “conducting business as usual.”

“In the event that a national emergency necessitates a draft, Congress and the President would need to pass official legislation to authorize a draft,” it said in a post last week.

The draft hasn’t been active since 1973, though speculation it will be reinstated has increased amid tensions between Iran and the U.S.

President Trump last week authorized a drone strike in Baghdad that killed Iran’s top military commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who administration officials said was planning an “imminent” terror attack. Iran responded late Tuesday, launching missiles at Iraqi military bases housing U.S. personnel.