Any phone • Scams • 5–10 minutes
How to spot scam texts
Scam texts: messages pretending to be a company
Common ones: Fake package-delivery texts that say "your package is on hold, tap to reschedule." Fake fraud alerts pretending to be your bank. Fake toll-road bills. A "wrong number" text that turns friendly, then starts asking for money or cryptocurrency. Threats pretending to be the IRS or another government office.
Red flags: The text comes from an unknown number, or from a strange long number instead of a name. It pressures you to act NOW. It includes a link. And the link’s address is not the real company’s website. Real companies text from short codes or verified senders, and their links go to their real website address.
What to do: Do NOT tap the link. If the text claims to be your bank or a delivery company, open that company’s own app, or type their real website address into your browser yourself, and check there. Then delete the text.
Report and block it on iPhone: Open the text. Tap the number at the top of the screen, tap Info, then tap Report Junk. Why: reporting helps your carrier block the scammer’s number for everyone.
Report and block it on Samsung or Pixel: Open the text. Tap the three dots, tap Block, and check "Report spam" before you confirm. Why: reporting helps your carrier block the scammer’s number for everyone.
The pause test: three questions to ask yourself
Before you do ANYTHING a stranger asks: pause. Ask yourself three questions: Are they rushing me? Do they want money or personal information? Did I contact them, or did they contact me? If they rushed you, want money or info, and THEY contacted YOU, it is a scam. When in doubt, ask a family member or friend before doing anything. A real company will wait.