A system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for referring contacts to receive text message alerts. An accounts module receives first user data including an indicator that a first user requested to subscribe to receive text messages alerts. The account module adds, based at least on the received first user data, a first user account to a database of subscribers. A message generator module generates, using the processor in response to receiving the first user data, a first text message corresponding to an offer to subscribe to receive text message alerts. A communication module transmits to the first user the first text message corresponding to the offer to subscribe to receive text message alerts. The transmitted first text message can be forwarded to a second user.