According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans reported $470 million in text scam losses in 2024. That’s five times the amount reported in 2020. The FTC says text scams continue to rise, despite a drop in the number of scams reported.

Exploiting your responsiveness to texts

Texts are far more likely to be responded to than calls or emails. The FTC’s Report on the State of Text Messaging found that American individuals and businesses sent 2.2 trillion texts, with open rates as high as 98% and response rates topping 45%. Compare that to email’s 20% open rate and 6% response rate. Consumers also said they preferred texting to calling two-to-one.

Fraudsters have this information, which is why they continue to send their scams over text. They’re leveraging text open and engagement rates against you, hoping you’ll click and reply instead of stopping and thinking.

Top text scams to watch out for

Here are some of the top text scams reported to the FTC:

Fake packages

Texts from someone pretending to represent the U.S. Postal Service topped the list of scams. These messages claim there’s a problem with your package delivery and provide a link to a fake site. They ask for a redelivery fee, which is a trick to get your credit card, Social Security number or other personal information.

The post office won’t charge you to redeliver a package. Instead, USPS workers will leave you a note (Form 3849) telling you they couldn’t deliver it. You can contact your local post office for free redelivery or have them hold it for you so you can pick it up yourself. If you need to check on a package, go to the USPS’s Find Missing Mail site.

Bogus jobs, the gamified “task scam”

In 2024, the FTC received over 20,000 reports of fake jobs under a “task scam.” In this scam, the criminal texts you about a job opportunity that involves rating products, videos or apps. The text says you can make good money by boosting products or doing optimization tasks for companies online. You just download the app and get started. 

In the app, you see an ever-increasing tally of your earnings, incentivizing you to complete more tasks. Eventually, the app or platform asks you to deposit your own money to complete the next set of tasks. It says this will allow you to cash in your earnings. It’s a heist. After you make the deposit, the scammer takes your money and bolts.

Never pay for a job. If a job asks you to pay them or transfer funds, it’s a scam. There are legitimate ways to make money by doing market research and reviews, but they don’t require a startup fee or payment. Also, writing fake reviews and ratings for products you’ve never used is illegal, and trustworthy companies won’t ask people to do it. Always research the company you’re applying to. Real jobs don’t send generic spammy texts or direct messages. If you get an unrealistic offer to make easy money, ignore it.

Fake fraudulent activity alerts

Scammers are looking to catch you off guard with this one. You get a text about suspicious financial activity or a large purchase you didn’t make. The text might even look like it came from a bank or retailer. It includes a number to call or a link to click. Or it asks you to type "STOP" to cancel the unrecognized transaction. Your reply goes to the scammer, who ironically poses as the fraud department.

These criminals are good at tricking you. They’ll seem helpful at first, but that’s part of the act. Eventually, they pressure you to transfer your cash to a “safe” account under the guise of helping you. It’s a lie. The money goes to their account instead.

Banks will never ask you to transfer your money to a safe account. They might ask you to verify your identity using a specific PIN or another means of verification, but they will never ask you to tell them your multifactor authentication code. If they do, hang up. Navigate to your bank’s official website and call their main number to report the fraud.

Similarly, a retailer won’t contact you to verify a purchase. Don’t respond to pushy or scary texts that demand you take action or suffer consequences. If you’re worried, contact the retailer using a platform you know is real to verify your account’s status. Don’t reply to the text, not even to say you know it’s a scam.

Instead, report them:

• Forward the scam text to your phone provider's spam department at 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block messages for everyone.
• Report it to your messaging app using the report junk or spam option.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

False notices for unpaid tolls

Scammers are sending texts that look like they’re from highway toll programs all over the country. They convince people to click a link about an unpaid toll balance, but it’s a lie. Reports suggest scammers are after credit card information and even Social Security numbers. They say they want you to click a link and pay the toll, but they actually steal your information instead.

Don’t click on unexpected texts with payment links. Instead, log in to check your toll account using a website or app you know is legitimate.

Wrong number texts

Wrong number scams start with an out-of-the-blue message that looks innocent. It might say “Hi” or “Sorry I was late.” Or “Coffee sounds good – what time?” They make it seem like a misdirected text. The scammer uses this tactic to play on your good nature.

It might seem like a simple act of kindness, but responding to let the stranger know they got the wrong number can kick off a long-range scam. Reports show these swindlers strike up fake relationships, often posing as successful investors. 

Once they’ve gained your trust, they offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, usually cryptocurrency. You might start by investing a small amount. Your investment quickly pays off. Then you invest a little more as your balance grows by tens of thousands of dollars. This can go on for months, getting you hooked on the scheme. One day, they have an amazing offer that requires more of your money. By now, you trust them. You make the investment, and they steal your funds.

In these scams, the account is merely a lure to get you to trust the scammer. Some targets have lost their life savings.

Don’t transfer or lend money to someone you’ve never met in person. Video chatting isn’t the same as meeting someone. Deepfakes could make the scammer sound and look like a completely different person. Often, these scams are engineered from real Facebook profiles to lend legitimacy. Artificial intelligence assists with the con by overlaying a fake image to disguise the scammer’s voice and face.

It can be hard to grasp, but these long-haul scammers are good at what they do. They’re great listeners and use psychological manipulation to mold themselves into your dream friend. Don’t let them talk you out of your feelings or into a false sense of security.

Advocate for yourself

In text scams like these, the scammer can seem to know and care about you. Not so. They are merely playing the odds. When they send a text message to 30,000 numbers, chances are good that 100 people will use the service they’re referencing.

Even if you accidentally engage with a scammer, disconnect. Trust your gut and report them. Use this knowledge to stay cybersafe!