Scammers send over 12 billion fraudulent text messages to Americans every year, and that number keeps climbing. These fake text messages—often called "smishing" (SMS phishing)—have become one of the most effective tools in a cybercriminal's arsenal because they exploit our trust in text messaging and our tendency to respond quickly to urgent-seeming messages.

Unlike email spam, which most of us have learned to identify and ignore, text messages feel more personal and immediate. We're conditioned to think texts come from people we know or legitimate businesses we interact with. That psychological advantage, combined with the fact that scammers can easily obtain your phone number from data brokers who sell your personal information to anyone willing to pay, makes smishing a lucrative criminal enterprise.

This guide will teach you exactly how to identify a fake text message before you become a victim, what to do if you've already engaged with one, and how to protect yourself going forward.

What Is Smishing and How Does It Work?

Smishing is a portmanteau of "SMS" and "phishing"—it's essentially a phishing attack delivered via text message rather than email. The goal is always the same: trick you into either revealing sensitive personal information, clicking a malicious link, or sending money.

Here's how the typical smishing scam works:

Step 1: Data Collection

Scammers obtain your phone number and often additional personal details (your name, address, recent purchases, bank you use) from data brokers, leaked databases, or the dark web. This information helps them craft convincing, personalized messages.

Step 2: The Hook

You receive a text that appears to come from a legitimate source—your bank, Amazon, the USPS, your wireless carrier, or even a government agency. The message creates urgency: a package is stuck, your account is locked, you owe money, or you're eligible for a refund.

Step 3: The Action

The text contains a link or phone number. If you click the link, you're taken to a fake website that looks remarkably similar to the real thing, where you're prompted to enter login credentials, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive data. If you call the number, you'll reach a scammer posing as customer service who will try to extract information or convince you to make a payment.

Step 4: The Theft

Once scammers have your information, they can drain bank accounts, make fraudulent purchases, steal your identity, or sell your credentials to other criminals. Some malicious links also install spyware on your phone that continues harvesting data long after the initial interaction.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost over $330 million to text message scams in 2022 alone, with the median individual loss around $1,000. But the real number is likely much higher since many victims never report these crimes.

Real Examples of Fake Text Messages

Understanding what these scams actually look like is your first line of defense. Here are authentic examples of smishing attempts that have targeted millions of Americans:

The Fake Package Delivery Scam

Message: "USPS: Your package has been held up due to an incomplete address. Please confirm your details: [malicious link]"

Variation: "Your FedEx package is awaiting delivery. Confirm your address and pay $1.99 shipping fee: [link]"

This scam exploded during the pandemic when online shopping surged. Scammers know most people are expecting a package at any given time. The fake websites look nearly identical to real USPS, UPS, or FedEx sites, complete with tracking numbers and official-looking logos.

The Bank Fraud Alert

Message: "Bank of America Fraud Alert: We've detected suspicious activity on your account ending in 4829. Verify your identity immediately: [link] or call 888-xxx-xxxx"

Variation: "Your Chase debit card has been temporarily locked due to unusual activity. Unlock now: [link]"

These messages exploit our fear of financial loss. The sense of urgency pushes people to act before thinking. The fake websites harvest your online banking username, password, and often security question answers or one-time codes.

The Prize or Refund Scam

Message: "Congratulations! You've been selected to receive a $500 Walmart gift card. Claim your reward: [link]"

Variation: "IRS Notice: You are eligible for a tax refund of $1,247. Verify your details to receive payment: [link]"

These play on our desire for free money or rewards. The "refund" scams are particularly effective during tax season. Victims who click through typically end up providing banking information supposedly to receive the payment, but instead give scammers direct access to their accounts.

The Account Suspension Threat

Message: "Your Netflix account has been suspended due to payment failure. Update your billing information within 24 hours: [link]"

Variation: "Apple ID: Your account will be permanently deleted in 12 hours due to suspicious activity. Verify here: [link]"

These create panic by threatening to cut off services we rely on daily. The fake login pages are sophisticated enough to fool even tech-savvy users, capturing not just passwords but also credit card information entered to "update billing."

The Smishing-to-Vishing Hybrid

Message: "This is Amazon customer service. We've detected unauthorized charges of $899 on your account. Call us immediately at 888-xxx-xxxx. DO NOT use the number on the website."

This variation tries to get you on the phone with a live scammer who can be more persuasive than an automated website. The instruction not to use the official number is designed to prevent you from verifying the claim through legitimate channels.

Red Flags: How to Spot a Fake Text Message Instantly

Learning to recognize these warning signs will help you identify scam texts within seconds:

Sender Information Anomalies

Short codes vs. real numbers: Legitimate businesses typically use consistent short codes (5-6 digit numbers) or 10-digit numbers for automated messages. Scammers often use random 10-digit numbers that change frequently, or they use email-to-SMS gateways that display as "[email protected]" or similar.

Slight misspellings: Look carefully at the sender name. Scammers use "Arnazon" instead of "Amazon," "PayPaI" (with a capital i instead of lowercase L), or "Chase Bnak" hoping you won't notice the difference.

Generic greetings: Legitimate companies usually address you by name in their systems. Messages starting with "Dear Customer," "Dear Member," or "Hello User" are suspicious, especially if the company normally personalizes communications.

Urgent or Threatening Language

Scammers rely on triggering your fight-or-flight response so you act without thinking. Watch for:

"Immediate action required"
"Your account will be closed in 24 hours"
"Respond within 1 hour or face penalties"
"Urgent security alert"
"Final notice"
"Verify now or lose access"

Legitimate companies rarely create artificial urgency in text messages. They'll send multiple notices over time and provide clear instructions for resolving issues through official channels.

Suspicious Links

Before clicking any link in a text message, examine it carefully:

Shortened URLs: Links using bit.ly, tinyurl.com, or other URL shorteners hide the true destination. Legitimate companies typically use their own branded short domains (like amzn.to for Amazon).

Misspelled domains: Look for subtle misspellings like "amazn-security.com" or "chase-verify.net" instead of the real "amazon.com" or "chase.com." Scammers register domains that look similar to real ones.

Suspicious top-level domains: Be wary of unusual endings like .xyz, .top, .club, or country codes that don't match the company's location (like a "US bank" using a .ru Russian domain).

IP addresses instead of domains: Any link showing numbers like "http://192.168.xxx.xxx" instead of a proper domain name is extremely suspicious.

Grammar and Spelling Errors

While not all scam texts contain obvious errors (many are now quite sophisticated), poor grammar remains a common red flag:

Awkward phrasing that doesn't sound natural
Inconsistent capitalization
Missing or extra punctuation
Words that sound like they were translated through multiple languages

Major companies have professional communications teams and would never send customer-facing messages with obvious errors.

Requests for Sensitive Information

Legitimate companies will never ask you via text message to:

Provide your full Social Security number
Enter your complete credit card number and CVV
Share your online banking password or PIN
Send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
Download an app from anywhere other than official app stores
Click a link to "verify your identity" with personal information

If a text asks for any of these, it's a scam—no exceptions.

Unsolicited Prizes or Refunds

If you didn't enter a contest, you didn't win anything. If you didn't request a refund, you're not getting one. These messages are always scams designed to collect your information or payment details under false pretenses.

What to Do If You've Been Targeted

If you receive a suspicious text message, here's exactly what to do:

1. Don't click any links or call any numbers in the message. This is the single most important step. Even clicking a link can sometimes trigger malware downloads or confirm to scammers that your number is active.

2. Don't respond, even to "unsubscribe" or "STOP." Responding confirms your number is active and monitored, which can lead to more scam attempts. The only exception is if you're absolutely certain the sender is legitimate.

3. Verify independently. If the message claims to be from your bank, a retailer, or service provider, contact them directly using the phone number or website you know is correct—not the information in the suspicious text. Log into your account through the official app or website (by typing the URL yourself) to check for any real issues.

4. Take screenshots. Document the message including the sender's number, timestamp, and full content. This evidence may be useful for reporting or if you later discover you've been victimized.

5. Delete the message. Once documented, remove it from your phone to eliminate any temptation to click links later and to prevent others who might use your phone from accidentally engaging with it.

If You Already Clicked the Link or Provided Information

Don't panic, but act quickly:

If you clicked a link but didn't enter information:

Run a security scan on your phone using reputable mobile security software
Monitor your device for unusual behavior (battery drain, unexpected data usage, apps you didn't install)
Consider resetting your phone if you notice anything suspicious

If you entered login credentials:

Immediately change passwords for any accounts that might use the same credentials
Enable two-factor authentication on all important accounts
Check your account activity for unauthorized access

If you provided financial information:

Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report potential fraud
Request new cards with different numbers
Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting one of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion)—they're required to notify the others
Monitor your accounts daily for unauthorized transactions

If you provided your Social Security number:

Place a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus (free and more protective than a fraud alert)
Consider identity theft protection services
File a report at IdentityTheft.gov to create a recovery plan
Monitor your credit reports closely for at least a year

If you sent money:

Contact your bank or payment service immediately to report fraud and attempt to reverse the transaction
File a police report with your local law enforcement
Report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

The faster you act, the better your chances of minimizing damage.

How to Report Fake Text Messages

Reporting smishing attempts helps authorities track scam patterns and potentially shut down criminal operations. Here's where to report:

Forward to 7726 (SPAM)

All major US carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) use the short code 7726 to receive spam reports. Simply forward the suspicious text to this number. Your carrier will receive the sender's information and can take action to block the source. This is free and doesn't count against your text message limits.

Steps:

Select the suspicious message
Choose "Forward" from your messaging options
Enter 7726 as the recipient
Send

Report to the Federal Trade Commission

The FTC maintains a database of scam reports that helps identify trends and supports law enforcement investigations.

How to report:

Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Select "Phone Calls, Emails, and Text Messages"
Choose "Text Message Scam"
Provide details about the message, sender, and any actions you took
Include screenshots if possible

Report to the Federal Communications Commission

The FCC regulates communications services and takes action against illegal text message campaigns.

How to report:

Visit consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
Select "Phone" as the issue category
Choose "Text" as the specific issue
Provide the sender's number, date/time, and message content

Report to the Impersonated Organization

If the scam text impersonates a specific company, report it directly to them:

Amazon: Forward to [email protected]
Apple: Forward to [email protected]
Banks: Use the fraud reporting contact listed on the back of your card or official website
IRS: Forward to [email protected] (the real IRS never initiates contact via text)
Social Security Administration: Report at oig.ssa.gov

These companies track impersonation attempts and may take legal action against scammers or work with law enforcement.

Report to Your State Attorney General

Many state AGs have consumer protection divisions that investigate scam operations. Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's reporting portal.

How to Protect Yourself Going Forward

Identifying and reporting fake text messages is reactive. Here's how to proactively reduce your risk:

Enable Spam Filtering on Your Phone

iPhone users:

Go to Settings > Messages
Scroll to "Message Filtering"
Toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders"
This moves messages from people not in your contacts to a separate tab

Android users:

Open the Messages app
Tap the three dots (menu) > Settings
Select "Spam protection"
Toggle on "Enable spam protection"

These built-in filters catch many obvious scam texts before they reach your main inbox.

Use Your Carrier's Spam Blocking Tools

Most carriers offer enhanced spam protection:

Verizon: Call Name ID (free basic version, $2.99/month for premium)
AT&T: AT&T ActiveArmor (free basic version, $3.99/month for premium)
T-Mobile: Scam Shield (free, pre-installed on many devices)

These services use databases of known scam numbers and AI to identify suspicious patterns.

Register with the National Do Not Call Registry

While primarily for voice calls, registering at DoNotCall.gov can reduce some text message spam from legitimate marketers. It won't stop scammers (who ignore the law), but it reduces overall message volume, making scams easier to spot.

Be Selective About Sharing Your Phone Number

Every time you provide your phone number to a business, website, or service, you increase your exposure. Consider:

Using a secondary number (Google Voice, Burner app) for online shopping and services
Declining to provide your number when it's optional
Reading privacy policies to understand how your number will be used
Opting out of marketing communications when signing up

Reduce Your Data Exposure Through Data Brokers

Here's the uncomfortable truth: scammers don't randomly guess phone numbers. They buy them from data brokers—companies that collect, aggregate, and sell your personal information to anyone willing to pay.

Data brokers compile dossiers containing your phone number, email addresses, home address, family members, property records, purchase history, and more. This information is sold to marketers, but it's also purchased by scammers who use it to craft convincing, personalized smishing attempts.

When a scam text mentions your name, references your bank, or knows about a recent purchase, it's because your data has been exposed through these brokers.

The manual approach to data broker removal:

You can request removal from data brokers individually under laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and similar state privacy laws. However, this process is extremely time-consuming:

There are over 2,100 active data brokers operating in the US
Each has different opt-out processes (some require forms, others need email requests, some demand physical mail)
Removals can take 30-90 days per broker
Your information reappears as brokers re-scrape public records and purchase new data sets
You need to repeat the process quarterly to stay off these sites

The automated approach:

Services like GhostMyData automate this entire process. Rather than manually submitting removal requests to hundreds of sites, GhostMyData uses 24 AI agents to continuously scan 2,100+ data brokers, submit removal requests on your behalf, and monitor for your information reappearing.

This is significantly more comprehensive than competitors who typically cover only 35-500 brokers, leaving you exposed on thousands of other sites. You can start with a free scan to see

How to Identify a Fake Text Message (With Examples)