How to Tell if a Text Message Is a Scam

How to Tell if a Text Message Is a Scam

Scam texts - often called smishing - pretend to be a delivery company, your bank, a toll road, a government office or a well-known shop. The aim is always the same: get you to tap a link, call a number or reply, then hand over a password, card number or one-time code.

The good news is that almost all of them share the same warning signs. This guide covers how to spot them, how to report them, and what to do if you already tapped the link.

Warning Signs of a Scam Text

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lists these common patterns. A text that matches any of them deserves a second look:

• A problem you didn't know about. "Your package can't be delivered", "unpaid toll", "suspicious activity on your account", "your account will be suspended".
• Something for nothing. A prize, gift card, refund, free phone or loan relief you didn't apply for.
• Urgency. "Within 24 hours", "final notice", "act now". Real companies rarely give you minutes to act.
• A link or number to "fix" it. Especially short links or web addresses that look almost right but have extra words, hyphens or odd endings.
• A request for personal details. Passwords, card numbers, PINs, bank logins or the code that was just texted to you. A real bank never asks for a one-time code by text or phone.
• An unknown or strange sender. A random mobile number or an email address, instead of the company's usual short code.
• Small mistakes. Odd spacing, wrong capital letters or a greeting that doesn't use your name. Many scam texts are well written, though, so don't rely on this alone.

Common Examples

• Delivery: "We couldn't deliver your parcel. Update your address here." The page then asks for a small "redelivery fee" and your card details.
• Toll or parking: "You have an unpaid toll balance. Pay now to avoid a penalty."
• Bank: "Did you try to pay 500 at a store? Reply YES or NO." Replying leads to a call from a fake "fraud team".
• Wrong number: "Hi, is this Anna?" A friendly chat that slowly turns into an investment or crypto pitch.
• Account lock: "Your Apple, Google or Microsoft account is locked. Verify here." If you're worried, check the account by opening its app or typing its website yourself.

How to Check Safely

1. Don't tap the link and don't reply.
2. Open the company's own app, or type its web address yourself, and sign in there. A real problem will show up in your account.
3. Or call the company using a number you already trust - the one on your card, bill or the official website - not the number in the text.

How to Report a Scam Text

Reporting helps your carrier and the authorities block the sender for everyone.

1. Forward it to 7726. In the US and the UK, 7726 (it spells SPAM on the keypad) goes to your mobile carrier. Some carriers then ask for the sender's number - reply with it.
2. Report it in your messaging app:
3. iPhone (Messages): open the conversation and select Report Junk under the message (shown for unknown senders), then Delete and Report Junk.
4. Android (Google Messages): touch and hold the conversation, select Block, and tick Report spam. Phones from other makers have similar options; the wording varies.
5. US: you can also report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Then delete the message. You can also turn on your phone's spam filtering - see how to block spam calls on Android and iPhone for the call and message filter settings.

What to Do if You Clicked

Don't panic - what matters is what happened after the click.

• You tapped the link but entered nothing: close the page. On a phone, make sure your system and apps are up to date. On a PC, run a full scan in Windows Security.
• You entered a password: change that password right away, from the real website or app, and on any other account that uses the same one. Turn on two-factor authentication.
• You entered card or bank details: call your bank or card issuer using the number on your card, and ask them to block the card. Watch your statements.
• You shared a one-time code: someone may be signing in to your account. Change the password, sign out of other devices from the account's security page, and contact the company.
• You installed something the text asked for: uninstall it, and contact your bank if it had access to banking apps.

If an email account was taken over, the steps in how to recover a hacked Google account show what to check.

The Same Tricks Arrive by Email

Scammers use the same messages in email, with fake logos and sender names. The warning signs are almost identical - see how to spot a phishing email before you click.

Quick Rule to Remember

If a message asks you to act fast through its own link or number, stop and check through a route you already trust. That one habit blocks most text scams.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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See Also:scams text messages security