How to Recognize a Scam Text Message
✓ Beginner-friendly • Step-by-step • Go at your own pace
Scam texts try to make you react quickly before you have time to think. They may also be described as spam texts, fake texts, phishing messages, suspicious texts, or scam messages. Knowing a few warning signs can help you avoid giving away money or personal information.
Common warning signs
- The message says you must act immediately.
- It claims there is a problem with a package, bank account, toll, subscription, or payment you do not recognize.
- It asks you to click a strange or unfamiliar link.
- It asks for a password, PIN, verification code, Social Security number, or banking information.
- It asks you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or another unusual payment method.
- The sender pretends to be someone you know but is texting from an unfamiliar number and suddenly asks for money.
What to do
- Do not click the link.
- Do not reply with personal information.
- If the text claims to be from a company, open the company’s official app or type its known website address yourself.
- If it claims to be from someone you know, contact that person using the phone number you already have saved.
- Block and report the message as junk or spam if your phone gives you that option.
If you already clicked
Do not panic. Close the page. If you entered a password, change that password using the official app or website. If you entered banking or card information, contact your financial institution using the number printed on your card or shown in its official app.
When in doubt, stop and verify the message through a contact method you already trust.
More help when you need it
If a step does not match what you see on your phone, that is okay. Phones and software versions can look a little different.
