SMS & text message scams
Text-message scams (smishing) use short, urgent messages with a link or number to push you into paying a small fee, sharing a code, or entering login details. Common themes include fake parcel delivery, unpaid tolls, bank alerts, and one-time codes.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15.
How these scams usually work
A smishing scam usually starts with a single short text dressed up as a routine notification: a parcel needs a small fee, a toll is unpaid, or your bank has spotted a problem. The message carries either a link to a convincing copy of a real website or a number to call. Once you tap through, you are asked to enter card details, log in, or read back a code that has just arrived on your phone. Because the amounts seem trivial and the wording feels ordinary, people act before checking. The real aim is your card number, your login, or the one-time code that unlocks an account or payment.
What the scammers want
- Card details
- Login credentials
- One-time codes
- Small upfront payments
Common red flags
What to do
- Don't tap links in unexpected texts.
- Open the official app or type the website yourself.
- Verify any charge directly with the company.
What not to do
- Do not pay a 'release' fee.
- Do not share OTPs.
- Do not call numbers in the text.
Common scam messages in this category
- Is this package delivery fee text a scam?
- Is this unpaid toll payment text a scam?
- Is this bank account blocked SMS a scam?
- Is this OTP / verification code request a scam?
- Is this customs clearance fee text a scam?
Top scam types
Related trend reports
- Scam Trends in 2023: Delivery Smishing, Bank Alerts and Early AI Phishing
- Scam Trends in 2024: The Text-Scam Explosion and Investment Fraud Surge
If you were affected
See our recovery guides and report through official channels via the reporting directory. Be wary of anyone offering to recover lost money for an upfront fee.
Official sources checked
- Compliance Alliance - FTC data: top text message scams of 2024 ($470M losses) - Medium reliability
- Brown University OIT - Latest top five text message scams - Medium reliability
- FTC Consumer Advice - Imposter scams - High reliability
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Check a messageFrequently asked questions
Why are text scams so common?
Texts are cheap to send at scale, feel personal, and create urgency - so a small fraction of replies still profits scammers.
What should I do if I tapped a link in a scam text?
Don't enter any details on the page. If you already did, contact your bank using the number on your card, change any password you entered, and watch for follow-up messages. Tapping a link alone is lower risk than entering information.
Is it safe to reply STOP to a scam text?
It's better not to reply at all. Any response, including STOP, confirms your number is active. Block the sender and delete the message instead.