Scam Alerts
The Text Message That Isn't From Your Bank
By John Riley, District Tech Group | Senior Tech Care
Phone scams are the ones we talk about most. Text message scams are the ones growing fastest, and they're harder to spot, because a text looks the same no matter who sent it.
What they look like
“USPS: your package could not be delivered. Update your address here.”
“Your account has been locked. Verify your identity now.”
“Did you authorize a $1,200 charge? Reply NO to dispute.”
“Your toll payment is overdue. Pay now to avoid a penalty.”
“Hi Grandma, this is my new number.”
“Hello?” or “Is this Susan?” from a number you don't recognize.
That last kind is the newest. There's no link and no threat. They just want a reply, so they know a real person is on the other end. A friendly conversation develops over days or weeks, and money comes up much later.
Why texts fool people who never fall for calls
- They can land in the right thread. A faked text can appear in the same conversation as real messages from your bank, under the same name.
- There's no voice to judge. You can't hear pressure or a bad accent or a call center in the background.
- The link is the whole scam. Tapping it takes you to a page that looks exactly like your bank's, and typing your password there hands it over.
- They're easy to reply to. Answering a text feels like nothing. That's the point.
Four rules
1. Never tap a link in a text you weren't expecting. Open the app yourself, or type the website in by hand.
2. Don't reply, not even “STOP” or “wrong number.” Any reply confirms your number is live and sells for more.
3. Check it yourself. Real problem with a package, a toll, or your account? It will be there when you open the app or call the number on your card.
4. Delete and report. On an iPhone or Android, you can report the message as junk and block the sender. You can also forward the text to 7726 (that spells SPAM), which reports it to your phone carrier.
If you already tapped the link
Don't panic — tapping alone usually isn't enough. The damage comes from what you typed afterward.
- If you entered a password, change it now, on that account and anywhere else you use it.
- If you entered card or bank details, call the number on the back of your card.
- If you were asked to install something, have the device checked before you use it for banking.
The same rule as always
A text asking you to act right now is a text to verify somewhere else. Don't tap. Look up. Check it yourself.
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