Scam texts are now one of the most common ways criminals reach people. The messages change, but the playbook doesn't.
The warning signs
- Urgency. "Pay within 24 hours," "your account will be suspended," "final notice." Real companies rarely threaten you by text.
- A link you didn't ask for. Unpaid toll, missed delivery, refund waiting. The goal is to get you to tap and enter card or login details.
- An odd sender. A random phone number or an email address sending a "bank" message.
- Requests for codes. No legitimate company will ever ask you to read back a verification code they texted you. That code is the key to your account.
- Strange payment methods. Gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or payment apps to a stranger are a sure sign of a scam.
What to do
- Don't tap the link or reply, not even "STOP." Replying confirms your number is active.
- Check on your own. Open the company's app or type its website yourself, or call the number on the back of your card.
- Report it. Forward the text to 7726 (it spells SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender, and report fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Delete and block.
If you already tapped or paid
Call your bank or card company right away, change the password on any account you entered, and turn on two-step verification. Acting fast makes a real difference.
Keep the phone itself locked down
No gadget can stop a scam text. The habits above are your best defense. But scammers also go after phones in other ways, so it's worth protecting the device itself:
- Use a strong lock. A longer passcode plus fingerprint or face unlock keeps a lost or stolen phone from becoming a doorway to your accounts. Our guide Biometrics Made Simple explains why it's safe.
- Control what your phone can hear and see. The Mic-Lock Apple Privacy Bundle and Mic-Lock Android Privacy Bundle include plug-in microphone blockers, webcam covers, secure charging adapters and a signal-blocking Faraday bag, so you decide when your devices are listening.
- Charge safely away from home. A Secure Charger passes power but blocks data, so a public charging port can't talk to your phone.
See everything in our Phone Security collection.
Share this with parents and grandparents. Scammers often target older family members first.