Skip to main content

Security Advisory: Text Message Scam (Peek/Valid Apps)

Posted Date: 10/26/26 (02:30 PM)
View Original Post

Dear SG Parents and Staff,

We want to bring a widespread text message trend to your attention that is currently at the doorstep of schools across the Capital District and nationwide (you can read more about it in this recent news report).

We are starting to see evidence of a social media trend where students and families have received text messages from toll-free 866 numbers: “Someone at [your school] sent you a compliment.”

The message includes a link prompting recipients to download anonymous apps like Peek or Valid. Naturally, curiosity drives students to click so they can see who complimented or voted for them, but this is a hook to entice them to download the viral personal information harvesting app. Once installed, these apps ask for the student’s school name and request access to their phone contacts. The app then automatically blasts the exact same text message to everyone in their contact list, causing the link to spread like wildfire through our student body. These platforms also frequently charge fees for "premium features" promising to reveal who sent the compliment. It is important to know:
  • Scotia-Glenville CSD does NOT endorse or permit the use of these apps. They are blocked on all district-owned devices and Wi-Fi networks, though students can still access them on personal cellular data.
  • Just because a text message names Scotia-Glenville does NOT mean it came from us. Official communications from the district will only come directly through ParentSquare.
  • Anonymous school apps often lead to serious privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and harassment. Any behavior that creates a disruption in our school setting will be addressed according to our Code of Conduct (also found on every school homepage).
Where we need your help:
  1. Talk to your child about the risks of clicking links from unknown senders and granting apps access to their contact lists and other personal information.
  2. Advise them to delete the message immediately without clicking the link.
  3. Check your child’s phone settings (usually a gear icon) to make sure third-party apps do not have automatic permission to access their contact list.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe online.

Sincerely,

Megan Johnson
Director of Technology