Text scams are now the most common way fraudsters first reach Americans. In March, the Federal Trade Commission told Congress that a text message was the top contact method in fraud reports for 2025, a year when people reported a record $15.9 billion in total fraud losses. The best protection is simple. Don’t click links or reply to texts you weren’t expecting. If a message seems real, contact the company yourself using a number or website you already trust.

That advice matters more than ever, because the old tells are fading. Artificial intelligence now helps scammers write clean, polished messages that sound like your bank, the post office or your boss. The typos you used to look for may not be there.

How big is the text scam problem?

It’s growing fast. In 2024, Americans reported losing $470 million to scams that began with a text, five times more than in 2020, according to the FTC. The share of text scam reports that involved lost money climbed from 5% in 2020 to 11% in 2024. The FTC says reported losses are only a fraction of the real total, because many victims never report.

Researchers at the fraud prevention company Sift found that scams they identified as using AI rose 456% between May 2024 and April 2025, Forbes reported. Text messages also get opened at rates as high as 98%, according to FTC materials, which makes them an easy target.

What are the most common text scams right now?

The FTC found that five schemes made up about half of all text fraud reports in 2024. Fake package delivery problems topped the list, followed by fake job offers, fake bank fraud alerts, unpaid toll notices and texts that pretend to be sent to the wrong number. That last one often turns into a long, friendly conversation that ends with a pitch for a fake investment.

The job version, often called a task scam, pays you small amounts at first for easy work like rating products. Then it asks you to deposit your own money to unlock bigger earnings, and the money disappears. Other common tricks include fake IRS or Social Security notices, fake prize offers, fake tech support warnings and messages asking you to share a verification code someone just sent you.

Expect scammers to borrow from the headlines. With the 2027 Social Security increase just announced, the midterm elections weeks away and holiday shopping starting, fake benefit notices, election messages and delivery alerts are likely to pick up.

What are the red flags of a scam text?

Pressure is the biggest one. Scam texts push you to act now to avoid a fine, a frozen account or a lost package. Real banks and government agencies don’t threaten you by text. Be suspicious of any link in a text you didn’t expect, especially shortened links or web addresses that almost match a real brand.

No legitimate company will ask you for your Social Security number, password, PIN or card details by text. Requests to pay with gift cards, crypto or a payment app are another warning sign. A generic greeting can be a clue, but scammers now pull names from data breaches, so a text that uses your name isn’t automatically safe. The sender’s number alone won’t tell you much either, since scammers can fake numbers, including ones that look like your bank’s.

What should you do if you clicked a scam text?

Act fast. Stop replying and block the number. If you shared card or bank details, call your bank using the number on the back of your card and ask it to freeze the account. If you gave out your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov and place a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If you paid with a gift card, call the card company right away and keep your receipts. Change any passwords that may be exposed and turn on two step login.

Then report it. Forward the text to 7726, which spells SPAM, so your carrier can block similar messages, and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How can you block text scams before they reach you?

Turn on your phone’s spam filter. On iPhone, look for the option to screen or filter unknown senders in your Messages settings. On Android, open Google Messages settings and enable spam protection. Major carriers offer free blocking tools, and apps like Nomorobo and Hiya add another layer. Don’t reply to suspicious texts, even to type STOP, because a reply confirms your number is active.

For many families, the most powerful protection is a phone call. Check in with older relatives, share these red flags and agree on one rule. When in doubt, don’t click.