From fake toll bills to "wrong number" crypto cons, read about the 9 scam texts hitting the most phones in 2026, with real examples and the tell for each.
Casey Rowland
TL;DR
Text scams cost Americans $470 million in 2024, up 26% year over year, and the average victim lost $1,452.
Bank fraud alerts and fake delivery notices are the highest-volume categories, but they're also the easiest to catch once you know the tell.
"Wrong number" texts are the most dangerous, because they don't ask for anything at first. The scam (usually a crypto investment con) shows up weeks later.
The tell is almost always urgency plus a link. Legitimate banks, carriers, and government agencies don't ask you to click a link to "avoid" an immediate penalty.
If you've responded or clicked, the damage isn't automatic, but speed matters for what you do next.
Text message scams have become a go-to for fraudsters, and there are a number of different ways that fraudsters will use scam texts to get your information. These texts look legitimate, and they make it really easy to fall for a scam. We all know someone who has accidentally clicked on one of these text message links and ended up with their information in the wrong hands.
In this post, we'll review the different types of scams that are out there, and how you can tell if its fake or not.
The 9 scam texts to know
These are the most common types of messaging scams in the market today. However, receiving a message isn't where the danger lies. It lies in whether not you click on a link from someone who you don't know without doing verification first.
Type | What it looks like | The tell |
|---|---|---|
Bank/account alert | "Suspicious activity on your account. Verify now:" + link | Your bank never sends a login link by text. Log in directly through the app instead. |
Fake delivery notice | "Your package couldn't be delivered. Pay $2.99 to reschedule:" | Carriers don't charge redelivery fees by text link. Track directly on the carrier's site. |
Toll road scam | "You have an unpaid toll. Pay now to avoid late fees:" | E-ZPass and SunPass bill through your account or mail, never a one-time text link. |
"Wrong number" / pig butchering | "Hey Tom, are we still on for dinner tomorrow?" | No ask at all at first. The red flag is what happens after you reply: weeks of friendly chat, then a crypto "opportunity." |
Prize/giveaway | "Congratulations! You've won a $1,000 gift card. Claim here:" | You can't win a contest you never entered. |
Streaming/subscription renewal | "Your Netflix payment failed. Update billing:" | Check your billing status by opening the app directly, not the link in the text. |
Government impersonation | "IRS/SSA notice: immediate action required" or a fake jury-duty warrant threat | The IRS and SSA do not initiate contact by text, and no agency threatens arrest by SMS. |
Job offer | "We reviewed your resume, $45/hr remote position, reply with your SSN to proceed" | A real employer never needs your SSN before an interview. |
Family emergency | "Mom, I lost my phone, this is my new number, can you send money?" | Call the family member directly on their known number before doing anything. |
1. Bank and account fraud alerts
Number one for a reason. Its the most common of any text message scam. Fraudsters will claim that you have had suspicious activity on your account and pushes you to "verify" by tapping a link, which leads to a fake login page built to steal your credentials.
The tell: your bank already has secure ways to reach you, and none of them are a text with a login link. If you are worried that your information has been taken, close the message, and call the banks phone number from their official website.
2. Fake package delivery notices
These are easy to fall for because online shopping is how most of us buy things these days. You'll recieve a message that impersonates USPS, FedEx, or UPS, claiming a delivery issue that needs a small fee to resolve. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a dedicated page on this exact scam because of how common it's become.
The tell: carriers don't charge redelivery fees by text. Double check by tracking any package directly on the carrier's official site or app. If there is an issue, it will be flagged here.
3. Toll road scams
A newer, fast-growing category impersonating E-ZPass, SunPass, and similar toll systems, claiming an unpaid toll with threats of late fees or legal trouble if you don't pay immediately through a link.
The tell: toll agencies bill through your linked account or physical mail, never a one-time SMS payment link.
4. "Wrong number" texts and pig butchering
This is the one worth taking most seriously, because it doesn't ask for anything at all at first. A message arrives that reads like an honest mistake: "Hey Tom, still on for dinner tomorrow?" When you reply that they have the wrong number, they keep the conversation going.
Over the following weeks, the conversation becomes friendly, then flirtatious or aspirational, often with mentions of a lavish lifestyle. Eventually it turns into a pitch to invest in cryptocurrency through an app the scammer recommends. The app shows real-looking gains. Withdrawals get blocked behind "fees" the moment you try to cash out. This pattern is known as pig butchering, and it's currently the single largest category of cryptocurrency fraud by total reported losses.
The tell: the danger isn't the first text, it's continuing the conversation with a stranger who contacted you by "mistake," especially once money or crypto comes up. If someone you don't know has contacted you about investments, crypto or other financial products, stop responding and block them.
5. Prize and gift card scams
"Congratulations! You've won a $1,000 gift card." These rely on the fact that a small percentage of recipients will click just in case it's real.
The tell: you can't win a contest you never entered.
6. Streaming and subscription renewal scams
A fake billing failure notice from Netflix, Spotify, or a similar service, pushing you to "update your payment info" through a link that leads to a convincing fake login page.
The tell: open the app directly to check your actual billing status instead of tapping the link.
7. Government agency impersonation
Messages claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or a local court, often threatening immediate legal action, a frozen SSN, or a jury-duty warrant unless you respond right away.
The tell: no legitimate government agency initiates contact by text, and none of them threaten arrest over SMS.
8. Job offer scams
This is becoming very common. People are always on the lookout for a new job, and a text claiming to be a recruiter with a high-paying can be very intriguing. These are often remote positions, and they ask for personal information such as your Social Security number before any real interview happens.
The tell: a real employer never needs your SSN before you've even spoken to anyone.
9. Family emergency scams
"Mom, I lost my phone, this is my new number." Once you're responding as if it's really your family member, the conversation shifts to an urgent request for money.
The tell: call your family member directly at their known number before sending anything, regardless of how convincing the story is. Also, have "keyword" specific word to know if this is really the person who you think it is.
If you've already clicked or responded
Clicking a link or replying doesn't automatically mean you've been compromised, but treat it seriously. Don't enter any information on the page the link opened. If you did enter login details, change your passwords immediately and turn on two-factor authentication.
If you sent money or crypto, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and to your bank right away, speed matters more than anything else once money has actually moved.
The bottom line
Text message scams are designed to make it feel like you have a problem, whether thats with an bank account, or if someone is in need of month. The fastest way to lower your risk isn't memorizing every scam format, it's treating any unexpected text with a link or a money ask as guilty until proven innocent.
For a deeper look at how these fit into the broader identity theft picture, see how identity theft actually happens. If your number and personal info are already circulating on data broker sites, that's part of why you're getting targeted in the first place, see how to remove your personal info from Google for a starting point, or let EverGuard monitor for you and back you up with real support if something does slip through.
FAQ
How can I tell if a text is from a scammer?
Look for urgency paired with a link: a threat, deadline, or reward that pushes you to act immediately. Legitimate banks, carriers, and government agencies don't operate that way over text.
Can I get scammed just by responding to a text message?
Replying alone doesn't drain your accounts, but it confirms your number is active, which can lead to more targeted attempts, and with "wrong number" scams specifically, responding is the first step in a longer con.
Can your phone get infected by opening a text?
It's possible if the text contains a malicious link you tap, but simply viewing a text message itself is low risk. The real danger is what happens after you click.
Can someone hack my phone from a text message?
Rarely from the text alone, most attacks need you to tap a link and enter information or install something. That's why the tell for nearly every category above is the same: don't click, and go directly to the real source instead.
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