The U.S. Army is warning people about phony text messages telling recipients they have been selected for a military draft.
In a new release Tuesday, U.S. Army Recruiting Command said it had received multiple calls and emails about the text messages. The messages claim the Army has failed in attempts to contact the person via mail or email and directs them to report to a recruiting branch or face fines and jail time. Another version tells the person to report to the nearest recruiting office “ for immediate departure to Iran,” Army Times reported.
It’s not clear where the messages originated or the reason behind them but they come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.
Army recruiting command said it has nothing to do with the messages.
The U.S. has not had a military draft since 1973 and now operates as an all-volunteer force. Men are required to register for Selective Service, a separate agency outside the Department of Defense, once they turn 18. Registering for Selective Service is not signing up for the military.
Select Service also responded to rumors it was planning to re-institute the draft.
“The Selective Service System 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,” the agency said in a statement.
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