How to Check If a Text Message Is a Scam

Scam text messages, also known as "smishing," have exploded in recent years. Americans received over 225 billion spam texts in 2025, and the number continues to grow. These messages often pretend to be from your bank, a delivery service, the IRS, or even a family member. Here is how to evaluate any suspicious text message before you respond or click anything.

Step 1: Check the Sender's Number

Start by looking at who sent the message. Scam texts often come from unusual numbers that do not look like normal phone numbers. Watch for these red flags:

• Random long numbers with extra digits, like a number starting with +1 followed by more than 10 digits.
• Short codes that do not match the company they claim to be from. Legitimate companies use consistent short codes.
• Email addresses as the sender. When a text comes from an email address rather than a phone number, it was sent through an online service, which is a common scammer tactic.
• Numbers from other countries when you have no reason to receive international messages.

Keep in mind that scammers can spoof phone numbers to appear as a legitimate caller. A familiar-looking number does not guarantee the message is real.

Step 2: Look for Urgent or Threatening Language

Scam texts almost always create a sense of urgency. They want you to act before you think. Common phrases include:

• "Your account has been suspended."
• "Unusual activity detected on your account."
• "Your package cannot be delivered. Click here."
• "You have won a prize. Claim it within 24 hours."
• "Final notice: respond immediately to avoid penalties."

Legitimate companies do not pressure you through text messages. If something is truly urgent, they will contact you through multiple established channels and give you time to respond.

Step 3: Inspect Any Links Without Clicking

If the message contains a link, do not tap it. Instead, look at the URL carefully. On most phones, you can press and hold a link to preview the full web address without opening it. Scam links often:

• Use misspelled versions of real company names (like "arnazon.com" instead of "amazon.com").
• Use unusual domain extensions (.xyz, .top, .click) instead of .com or .gov.
• Include long strings of random characters.
• Use URL shorteners (bit.ly, tinyurl) to hide the real destination.

If you are not sure about a link, do not click it. Instead, open your browser and go directly to the company's website by typing it in yourself.

Step 4: Verify With the Real Company

If a text claims to be from your bank, a delivery service, or a government agency, verify the claim independently. Here is how:

• Call the company directly using the number on their official website, your billing statement, or the back of your card. Never use a number provided in the suspicious text.
• Log in to your account by going directly to the company's website or app. If there is a real issue, it will appear in your account notifications.
• Check recent communications. If your bank really did detect suspicious activity, there will likely be an alert in your online banking portal as well.

Step 5: Report the Scam Text

Reporting scam texts helps protect others. Here is how to report them:

• Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). This sends the message to your wireless carrier, which uses the information to block future scam messages.
• Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Block the sender on your phone so they cannot contact you again from that number.
• Delete the message after reporting and blocking so you do not accidentally tap a link later.

When You Are Still Not Sure

If you have gone through all five steps and still are not certain, there is one more thing you can do: paste the message into a scam checker. NoScamForMe analyzes the content of any message and tells you whether it shows signs of a scam. It takes less than ten seconds, it is free, and it does not share your information with anyone.

The most important thing to remember is this: if a text message is real and important, the company will contact you again through other channels. You will never miss a legitimate communication by taking a few minutes to verify. But you could lose thousands of dollars by acting on a scam text without checking first.