How To Identify a Fake Text Message

Updated on April 4, 2025.

Fake text messages target people like you to steal your Personally Identifiable Information (PII), leading to higher risks of becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud. To prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a fake text message scam, you must first be able to identify if the text message is relevant to you, comes from an unknown number and uses urgent language – among other things.

Keep reading to learn seven easy ways to identify fake text messages and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

1. The message is irrelevant to you

One of the clearest signs that a text message is a scam is if the message’s content is completely irrelevant to you. Scammers often send bulk messages to many people at once, hoping that at least one person will fall for the scam.

2. The message comes from an unknown number

Another sign that a text message might be a scam is if it claims to be from someone you know, yet it’s sent from an unfamiliar phone number. Any message from an unknown number should be treated with caution, regardless of what the sender says to convince you they’re trustworthy.

However, keep in mind that some scammers spoof phone numbers to make it seem as if the message is coming from a legitimate company or person by displaying a familiar name from your contact list. It’s important to note that many companies use third-party services to send messages to their customers, which may result in phone numbers being only five digits long. If you see an unfamiliar number with more than five digits, be cautious.

3. The message uses urgent language

Scammers try to get people to act quickly before they have time to question their actions. One of the most effective ways they do this is by creating a sense of urgency. By making a message seem time-sensitive, scammers pressure recipients into clicking links, opening attachments, sharing login credentials, sending money and more. If you receive an unexpected message urging you to act immediately, resist the urge to act right away. Instead, take a moment to verify the message’s legitimacy before responding.

4. The message urges you to click on a link

Scammers often include malicious links in scam texts, pressuring victims to click on them. This is very risky because these links can lead to fake websites designed to steal personal information. In some cases, clicking the link can also trigger an immediate malware download onto your device. Malware is harmful software that can infect your files and entire device. Remember that any suspicious text urging you to click on a link is likely a scam, so it’s best to avoid clicking it.

5. The message contains spelling and grammatical errors

Many scammers don’t take the time to proofread their text messages, which usually results in noticeable spelling and grammatical mistakes. This is particularly common in texts impersonating legitimate companies. It’s important to remember that legitimate companies usually review and approve their marketing messages before sending them, ensuring they are free of errors. If you receive a text that claims to be from a company but contains spelling or grammatical mistakes, it’s a clear sign that the message is a scam.

6. The message promises you something

Scammers often promise too-good-to-be-true deals, like free prizes, gift cards or even offers to pay off student loans or credit card debt. These messages generally ask for sensitive details, including your Social Security number or bank account information. Legitimate companies don’t offer unsolicited rewards in exchange for personal information. So, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

7. The message uses incorrect branding

Sometimes, scammers try to appear credible by mimicking the names and logos of well-known companies. However, one of the easiest ways to spot a text scam is by looking closely at its branding. Although the name or logo may look familiar, the link or email address it leads to will be slightly altered or misspelled.

For example, you may receive a text from “PayPal,” but the link could be something like “pay-pal-support.com” instead of the official PayPal website. The subtle difference can be easy to overlook, which is why it’s important always to double-check the URL. If it seems off, avoid clicking the link. Legitimate companies will never send you a link with a suspicious web address.

Examples of common fake text messages

Texting scams can appear in many forms. Here are four common types of fake text messages. 

Fake delivery notification texts

Scammers send texts claiming there’s an issue with a delivery, asking for your personal information before it can be completed. To do this, scammers impersonate legitimate companies, including USPS or UPS. If you aren’t expecting a delivery, it’s easy to determine that this is a scam. However, if you are expecting a delivery, don’t click any links or provide any information through the text. Instead, check the delivery status directly on the official website or tracking page.

Texts claiming to be from your boss

Some scammers pretend to be your boss or even the CEO of your company. In this scam, the text messages urge you to buy gift cards and respond with the numbers or PINs. If you receive a text like this, it’s almost certainly a scam. Verify with your boss or company before taking any action.

“You’ve won a giveaway!” texts

A common scam claims you’ve won a prize, vacation or money, but the text requires you to click a link and provide personal details to claim it. If you have never entered a giveaway, this is a red flag. Avoid clicking the link and block the sender’s number.

Texts that your bank is closing your account

Scammers may send a text saying your bank account will close unless you take immediate action. Banks never send urgent closure notices through text messages. Instead of clicking any links, contact your bank immediately and directly using their official website to verify the message. 

How to protect yourself from fake text scams

Here are several steps you can take to avoid falling victim to fake text messages:

• Never click suspicious links in text messages: Scammers include links that lead to fraudulent websites designed to steal your personal information or infect your device with malware. Always double-check the URL, and don’t click on it if it looks suspicious.
• Avoid interacting with texts from unknown numbers: If you receive a message from an unfamiliar number, treat it with caution, especially if it’s asking for personal information or using urgent language. Legitimate companies won’t send unsolicited texts requesting sensitive details.
• Never send personal information through text messages: Never share sensitive data, such as passwords or banking details, through text messages. If a text asks for such information, it’s likely a scam. Always communicate with businesses through official channels.
• Immediately block numbers that send you scam texts: If you receive a scam text, block the number to prevent further communication with the scammer. You can find settings to block unknown numbers directly on your smartphone.
• Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM): Many mobile carriers offer reporting services that allow you to forward suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM), which helps them take action against scammers.
• Report scam texts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): If you’ve received a scam text, report it to the FTC through their website. Reporting scam texts helps authorities investigate, preventing others from falling victim to the same scams.

Avoid falling victim to fake text messages

Fake text message scams can lead to identity theft and serious financial loss. Recognizing the signs of a text scam is important to protecting yourself and your identity. In addition to learning how to spot fake text messages, you should also secure your accounts with strong, unique passwords and enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Use a password manager like Keeper^®, which makes securing your online accounts easy.

Start your free 30-day trial of Keeper today to keep your accounts safe from scammers.