U.S. consumers reportedly lost around $470 million last year due to scams initiated through fake text messages, as stated by the report. The Federal Trade Commission information published on Wednesday .
These losses represented a 26% rise compared to the $373 million recorded in 2023 and were five times higher than the $85 million reported in 2020. According to the FTC, these figures probably account for only a portion of the real funds lost due to scams since many such incidents remain unreported.
Meanwhile, the count of reported scams has decreased over the last four years, declining from 332,000 incidents in 2020 to 247,000 in the previous year. However, according to the FTC, the sum of money forfeited per reported scam has surged significantly.
In recent times, scammers have increasingly turned to text messages as consumers move away from conventional email and desktop usage towards mobile devices. Moreover, the concise format and abbreviated or obscured links employed in text messaging make fraudulent messages less detectable compared to those sent via standard emails.
In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission received numerous reports about text message scams primarily involving package-delivery fraud. Criminals often pretend to be from logistics companies such as UPS or FedEx, or big retailers like Amazon. These scammers typically send texts alleging some sort of trouble with your shipment—perhaps citing issues with payment methods or requesting you update incorrect delivery details.
Other common scams included fake job opportunities Including what are known as task scams that begin with promises of simple online jobs but frequently deceive victims into “investing” their own funds. Other communications come across as fake warning notices stating there are dubious transactions on their credit cards or unauthorized access to their bank accounts. Unpaid toll scams have also gained popularity among cybercriminals in recent months,
In addition, some romance scams begin their schemes with innocuous texts that seem to come from a mistaken contact. They then initiate a dialogue with the intended target, gradually forming an online connection over time before ultimately soliciting funds from them.
No matter what story the swindler spins, these communications aim to trick the receiver into parting with their cash. cryptocurrency , details about banking or credit cards, usernames and passwords for online accounts, or even highly sensitive information such as their Social Security number.
Advice for steering clear of SMS frauds
Avoid clicking on links in unexpected messages. If a message appears to originate from your bank or preferred retailer, it's safer to visit their official website directly instead of clicking on any links provided.
Give careful thought before sharing private data. Whether the The request arrives via email, text message, or telephone call. Before sharing your personal or financial details, consider this carefully. Is the organization or individual who’s asking for them genuinely entitled to such information? Regardless of whether their request is valid, minimizing how much of your data circulates can only be beneficial.
Configure text filters and blacklist recognized scam phone numbers. You can accomplish this on your own. Apple or Android phone, or through your wireless carrier. Third-party call-blocking apps can stop messages, too. Need help? The FTC recommends consulting the CTIA .
Report scam messages. You can do this through your Apple or Android messaging app but you also can copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This will help your wireless carrier spot and block future scam messages. Messages also can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov .
Initially released on April 16, 2025 at 3:10 p.m. Pacific Time.
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