Is this text a scam?
If a text is unexpected and asks for personal or financial information, treat it as a scam: don't tap the link, check with the company yourself.1
Text Message
Today 9:41 AM
Alert: we noticed suspicious activity on your account1 and it has been locked. Verify within 24 hours or it will be closed:2 account-verify.example.net3 Have your card number and PIN ready.4
- A message you didn't expect about "suspicious activity on your account". The FTC lists it as a common lie.1
- A deadline and a threat. The FBI says scammers use "urgent and aggressive tones".3
- A link that isn't the company's own site. It can lead to a spoofed site that looks real.1
- A request for account details. "Legitimate companies won't ask for information about your account by text."1
What to do Don't tap the link or reply. Contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.1
A made-up example built from the FTC's and FBI's descriptions. Checked 29 October 2026 against the sources.
Six checks before you tap
One yes is enough to stop and check with the sender yourself.
- Did you expect it?Scam texts arrive out of the blue and ask for personal or financial information.1
- Does it ask for account, card or Social Security numbers?Legitimate companies won't ask for information about your account by text.1
- Is there a deadline, a threat or a request for secrecy?Scammers press hard, and may tell you not to tell family, friends or your bank.3
- Where does the link really go?Fake links mirror official ones with slight changes, such as .com instead of .gov.3
- Does it want payment by gift card, crypto, courier or wire?The FBI says officials never ask for payment by prepaid card, cryptocurrency or courier.3
- Is it free money?Texts promising free prizes, gift cards or coupons are offering things that aren't real.1
Match it to a known scam
The FTC estimates that five scams made up about half of the text frauds reported to the FTC in 2024, when people reported losing $470 million to text scams.2
| The text says | The example |
|---|---|
| A package can't be delivered | USPS package text |
| A job with easy pay, often for tasks | Job offer text and task scam |
| "Did you make this purchase?" | Fake bank fraud alert |
| You owe a toll | Unpaid toll text |
| "Hi, is this...?" from a stranger | "Wrong number" text |
| An overdue traffic ticket | DMV text scam |
| You aren't registered to vote | Election scam texts |
| A tax refund or an IRS problem | IRS scam texts and emails |
If it is a scam
Report it, then delete it
Use your messaging app's report junk option, or forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block similar messages. Then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.1
Questions people ask
How do I know if a text is legitimate?
Should I reply STOP to a scam text?
The FTC says never respond to unexpected texts. Report them and delete them.2
Can the sender's number be faked?
Yes. The FBI says scammers often spoof real phone numbers, email addresses and names of government agencies.3
I already tapped the link. What now?
What to do depends on what you entered, if anything. What to do after clicking a phishing link
Sources 3
- How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages (July 2022), Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. Read 29 October 2026.
- Top text scams of 2024 (Data Spotlight, 14 April 2025), Federal Trade Commission. Read 29 October 2026.
- Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud Schemes (I-091726-PSA, 17 September 2026), FBI IC3. Read 29 October 2026.
Every example is rebuilt from an official alert and made safe, and every source shows the day we read it. How we check