10 Text Message Scams You Didn't Know About (Until Now)

Do You Know How to Spot a Text Scam?

Text scams (also known as “smishing”) are among the most common tactics scammers use to steal personal 
information. Last year alone, scammers sent out 87.8 billion spam text messages and defrauded victims of 
over $10 billion.

If you’ve received a suspicious text, don’t respond, click on links, or call any numbers. How else can you keep your identity and money safe from scammers?

How Do Text Message Scams Work?

Fraudsters implement numerous types of text message scams. But they all follow a similar pattern:

• You receive a text message from an unknown or “spoofed” number. Scammers use technology to make 
  it look like they’re messaging you from a business or person you know (such as the IRS, Apple, or Amazon).
• The message creates a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly. For example, it may claim that your bank account has been closed or that you’ve won a free gift.
• Next, the scammer will try to get you to either respond, click on a link, or call a number.

In recent years, text scammers have become masters of human psychology. They know exactly what to say 
to get you to act without thinking.

The 10 Latest Text Message Scams to Avoid

1. Missed delivery notification from UPS or others

   With more people shopping online because of the pandemic, delivery notification scam texts have run rampant. In this scam, the fraudster sends a fake text message claiming to be from UPS, FedEx, or a similar delivery service, notifying you that a “delivery” was missed or needs to be rescheduled. If you’ve recently bought something online, you’ll be tempted to click on the link. But doing so will often lead you to a scam site that requests your personal information or asks for an advance payment in order to deliver your package.

2. “Is this you?” messages purporting to be from a friend or colleague

   A message from a friend, family member, or employer would likely prompt an immediate response. And that’s what scammers are counting on. With just your phone number and some publicly available information from your social media profiles and online footprint, scammers can send you a convincing text message claiming to be from someone you know. Some of these scams pretend to be from a colleague (such as a boss claiming to be in an emergency situation and needing you to send money or gift cards). Others might even claim to be a romantic interest.

3. Text scams claiming that your bank is closing your account

   Scammers know that sending you anything to do with your bank account will prompt you to act without thinking. Fake bank text message scams will often claim that your account has been locked or closed due to security concerns. To restore access, you will be asked to follow a link or call a phone number — at which point the scam happens.

4.  Texts claiming that you’ve won a prize or sweepstakes

   Winning a tropical holiday to the Bahamas, a new MacBook, or a million-dollar cash prize would make your day. But did you really win? Receiving a notification about winning a prize from a competition you don’t remember entering is a red flag for a sweepstakes text scam. To claim the prize, scammers will ask you to pay a fee and provide personal and banking information.

5. Texts claiming that your debit or credit card has been locked

   If you’re out shopping or in immediate need of funds, you could be tempted to try and unblock your card using a link contained in a spam text message. But if you click on the link, it will take you to a phishing site that steals your information (and gives scammers access to your bank account).

6. Text messages supposedly from the IRS or other government agencies

   Criminals know most people become anxious dealing with the IRS. For this reason, they will often impersonate agents via texts and calls in an effort to trick you into paying for taxes and other related fees that you don’t owe. These scams can take different forms. For example, you might be told that there’s a warrant out for your arrest due to tax evasion, or that you’re eligible for additional stimulus funds. But in both cases, the scammers want you to engage so that they can steal your personal information or get you to send them money.

7. Text messages from your own number

   Perhaps the weirdest of all text scams is receiving one from your own number. Lately, criminals are spoofing users’ phone numbers and sending texts thanking them for paying their phone bills, with the hope that recipients will respond out of curiosity. 

8. Texts claiming that your payment for subscription services didn’t go through (Netflix, HBO, etc.)

   Subscription services like Netflix, Disney, HBO, and Hulu have become common targets for text scammers. In these scams, you receive a text message claiming that your account has been locked due to non-payment —or that you have money waiting for you because of an “overpayment.” The scammer’s goal is to get you to click on the link and enter your payment information — which goes straight to the 
   scammer.

9. Texts about purchases you didn’t make (fake fraud alerts)

   No one wants to pay for products or services they didn’t ask for. Scammers use the threat of fraudulent purchases to get you on the phone or to prompt you to confirm your banking information. In one common version of this scam, you’ll get a “courtesy alert” about a purchase you didn’t make. A phone number is provided for you to call if it wasn’t you. Once on the phone, the scammers will push you to “verify” your personal information, such as your credit card number. Sometimes scammers will send these alerts claiming to be from your bank. These fake fraud alerts ask you to respond with “YES” or “NO” for a pending transaction. But no matter how you reply, you’ll be told you need to call to “verify” your response.

10. Two-factor authentication (2FA) scam text messages

    Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. It works by sending a short code to your mobile device once it detects a login attempt on your account. This process makes it difficult for hackers to access your account even though they have your username and password. So, their next attempt is to “smish” your authentication code from your mobile phone. First, they’ll spoof the 
    number of a legitimate company (for example, Snapchat), and send you a text claiming they’ve detected “suspicious login activity” on your account. To avoid locking your account, they’ll request that you text them back your 2FA code once you receive it. If you send it to them, you’ve given them access to your account.

What To Do If You Receive a Scam Text

The good news is that receiving a scam text isn’t dangerous. But if you do anything more than look at it, you could put yourself at risk. Instead, here’s what to do if you receive a scam text:

• Don’t respond. Any action can put you at risk of being scammed or having your identity stolen. Don’t reply (even with “STOP”) or call phone numbers in unsolicited text messages.
• Don’t click on any links. Scam text links can send you to phishing sites or even infect your device with malware that allows fraudsters to steal your personal information.
• Contact the company directly. If a scammer claims to be from a company you use (or your bank), contact them through official channels — not the contact information contained in the text message.
• Report scam texts: Forward the message to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at SPAM (7726) or report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 
• Resist the urge to mess with scammers. Believing that you can outsmart scammers — either by prank calling them or constantly chatting with them — only puts you more at risk.
• Block the number. This will stop scammers from pestering you and continuing to try to scam you.
• Delete the scam text. Don’t leave it in your inbox where you might accidentally open it or click on a link. If possible, delete all scam texts without opening them.