Text message scams (smishing) are on the rise. Let's help you identify what's legitimate and what's a threat.
Text message scams (known as "smishing" - SMS phishing) have exploded in recent years. In 2024, Americans received an estimated 12 billion scam texts, with fake package delivery notifications being the most common.
Scammers love text messages because they feel more personal than emails, people check them quickly, and they're easy to send in massive quantities.
What they say: "Your package couldn't be delivered. Click here to reschedule." or "Confirm your address to receive your shipment."
The scam: The link leads to a fake website that steals your personal information or installs malware.
Risk level: Very High
How to spot it: You weren't expecting a package, the link looks suspicious, generic greeting ("Dear customer"), poor grammar.
What they say: "Unusual activity detected on your account. Verify immediately." or "Your card has been locked. Click to unlock."
The scam: They want you to click a link and enter your banking credentials on a fake site.
Risk level: Very High
How to spot it: Real banks don't ask for login credentials via text. Generic greeting, creates urgency.
What they say: "Congratulations! You've won a $500 gift card. Claim it now!" or "You've been selected for a free prize."
The scam: They either want your personal information or charge a "small processing fee" to claim your "prize."
Risk level: High
How to spot it: You never entered any contest, too good to be true, requests personal info or payment.
What they say: "Earn $5,000/week working from home! No experience needed. Apply now!"
The scam: They ask for personal information for "background check" or want you to pay for training materials.
Risk level: High
How to spot it: Unsolicited offer, promises unrealistic income, asks for payment or sensitive information upfront.
What they say: "Your verification code is: 123456" (when you didn't request one)
The scam: Someone is trying to access your account and they're hoping you'll ignore the text or share the code.
Risk level: Very High
How to spot it: You didn't try to log in anywhere. This is someone trying to break into your account.
What they say: "You've received $800 via Venmo/Zelle/CashApp. Confirm to accept."
The scam: The link is fake, designed to steal your payment app credentials.
Risk level: Very High
How to spot it: Check your actual app directly, don't click links in texts about money.
The #1 rule: Don't click links in text messages from unknown numbers or unexpected texts from seemingly known contacts. Even if the link looks legitimate, scammers can create fake websites that look identical to real ones.
Instead, go directly to the company's app or website by typing it into your browser yourself.
Scammers can spoof phone numbers to appear as contacts in your phone. If a friend or family member sends an unusual request (especially for money or personal info):
Scammers harvest phone numbers from social media, data breaches, and public directories. Limit who can see your phone number online.
If you receive a verification code you didn't request, someone is trying to access your account. Never share these codes with anyone.
Our phone number analysis tool can help you determine if the number that texted you has been reported for suspicious activity.
⚠️ Important: This is informational data only. We aggregate publicly available information and user reports. We cannot guarantee accuracy or completeness. This is not a consumer report and may not be used for employment, housing, credit, or insurance decisions. Always verify information independently.
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