What to do if you get a scam text

Scam texts the FTC warns about

• Package delivery. It says there's a problem with a delivery and links to a site that looks like the real USPS site, but isn't. Many people reported paying a small redelivery fee that turned out to be a trick to get their credit card or even Social Security number, the FTC says.
• Fake fraud alerts. It's about so-called suspicious activity or a big purchase you didn't make, and often looks like it's from a bank or Amazon. It may give a number to call, or ask you to reply YES or NO.
• Unpaid tolls. It looks like it's from a highway toll program and tells you to click a link to pay an unpaid balance. The FTC says neither the charges nor the message are legit.
• Job offers. It offers work without specifics. The job is simple tasks like rating products or apps. At some point, people are told to send money to finish their tasks and withdraw their supposed earnings. The FTC says it's all fake.
• Prizes. It promises free prizes, gift cards or coupons. The FTC says they're not real.

If you already tapped a link or replied

• You tapped a link. If you think you gave a scammer access to your phone, the FTC says to update your security software, then run a scan and delete anything it identifies as a problem.
• You typed a password. Make a new, strong password for that account, and change it anywhere else you use it. The FTC also says to turn on two-factor authentication. Can't log in? Contact the company.
• You paid. Tell your bank, card company or payment app right away, and ask them to refund your money, the FTC says. For a card, use the number on the back of it. Paid with a gift card, a wire transfer or crypto? The FTC's page What To Do if You Were Scammed covers those too.
• You typed a card or bank account number. Contact your bank or card company on a number you know is real, like the one on the back of your card. IdentityTheft.gov says to cancel the card and request a new one, or close the account and open a new one, and to review your transactions regularly.
• You gave your Social Security number. If it was used, report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan. If it wasn't, or you're not sure, the FTC says to follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov/databreach.
• You replied. Don't reply again or call a number it gives. With fake fraud alerts, the FTC says, people who reply are connected to a fake fraud department, then pressured into moving money out of their accounts, and it goes to the scammers. Worried about your account? Call your bank on the number on your card or statement.

What to do when you get a scam text

1. 1

   Don't reply, don't tap any link and don't call a number in it. The FTC says to never click on links or respond to unexpected texts, and not to use the information in the text.

2. 2

   Check it another way. Contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. If it says it's from family or a friend, call or message them on a number you know is right.

3. 3

   Expecting a package? Look up the tracking on the site where you ordered it, not through the text.

4. 4

   Not sure? Paste it into our free scam check. It's an automated check, so it can be wrong: Is this a scam?

5. 5

   Report it. Forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which the FTC says helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages. Report it as junk or spam in your messaging app, and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Then delete it.

6. 6

   Getting a lot of them? Turn on the spam filters your carrier and your phone offer: How to stop spam calls and texts

How can I tell if a text is a scam?

If a text you weren't expecting asks for personal or financial information, don't click on any links. Legitimate companies won't ask for information about your account by text, the FTC says. Don't assume a text from a known company is legit. Scammers want you to react quickly, but it's best to stop and check it out.

What happens if I tap the link?

Some links might take you to a spoofed website that looks real but isn't, the FTC says. If you log in there, scammers might steal your username and password. Other messages might install harmful malware on your phone. If you already tapped, see what to do above.

Why do I keep getting scam texts?

Scammers love sending texts, the FTC says. In 2024, people reported $470 million in losses to text scams, more than five times the 2020 number, its April 2025 Data Spotlight says. And your number may be out there. People-search sites list phone numbers with names and addresses, and California's privacy agency says data brokers may sell information to scammers.