IYKYK: The top text scams of 2022
Scammers send fake text messages impersonating banks, retailers, delivery services, and employers to steal money and personal information. These five scams account for over 40% of reported text fraud.
You receive a text that looks like it came from a company you trust (your bank, Amazon, UPS, Whole Foods, your cell phone company). The message creates urgency or promises a reward. You click a link, call a number in the text, reply to verify information, or pay a small fee. Once you engage, scammers collect your credit card number, Social Security number, or gain remote access to your phone to steal money or commit identity theft.
- Text asks you to click a link or call a number to verify urgent account activity
- Message promises a free gift, reward, or prize after you pay a small fee
- Sender claims to be from a delivery company saying there is a package problem
- Job offer promises easy money for mystery shopping or car advertising
- Text looks automated but asks you to take action or provide personal details
- Caller offers to fix your account and requests remote access to your phone
Do not click links, reply to, or call numbers in unexpected texts. If you think the message is real, hang up and contact the company directly using a phone number or website you know is correct. Do not use contact information from the text message itself. Forward suspected scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report them to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your phone's built-in fraud reporting tool.