Americans Lost Over $470 Million to Scam Text Messages Last Year

Americans Lost Over $470 Million to Scam Text Messages Last Year

Scam text messages are rapidly becoming one of the most costly forms of consumer fraud in the U.S.

According to recent data cited by AOL, Americans lost more than $470 million to scam texts in a single year, a figure that has increased more than fivefold compared to just a few years ago. Fraudsters are increasingly turning to text messages because people tend to respond faster to texts than emails or phone calls especially when messages appear urgent or come from familiar brands.

Why Scam Texts Are So Effective

Scammers use text messages to impersonate trusted organizations, including banks, delivery services, employers, and even family members. Many messages include malicious links, fake login pages, or requests for payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.

The report notes that scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using AI generated language, personalized details from data breaches, and real world scenarios like package deliveries or account alerts to appear legitimate.

Common Scam Text Tactics

The article highlights several scam text patterns consumers should watch for, including:

• Fake package delivery notices claiming a missed shipment or small redelivery fee

• Bank or account alerts asking you to verify suspicious activity

• Job and task scams offering easy money with vague job descriptions

• Prize and gift card scams claiming you’ve won something you never entered

• Unpaid toll or government fee messages threatening fines or penalties

• Wrong number and romance scams designed to build trust over time

• Family emergency scams pressuring victims to send money quickly

Across all of these, urgency and fear are common tactics designed to get victims to act before thinking.

How to Protect Yourself from Scam Texts

Experts recommend several steps to reduce the risk of falling victim to smishing scams:

• Don’t reply to unsolicited messages, even to say “STOP”

• Never click unknown links or download attachments

• Avoid sharing personal or financial information via text

• Use text and call blocking tools, including apps like Nomorobo

• Enable spam filtering on your phone’s messaging settings

• Report scam texts to the FTC at https://www.donotcall.gov

Using layered protection, phone settings, carrier tools, and third party blocking apps, can dramatically reduce how many scam texts reach you in the first place.

Learn more about how Nomorobo helps block scam calls and texts before they reach your phone at https://www.nomorobo.com/fraudfighters

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