Here are the top text message scams to watch out for
(WHTM) — There are some alarming new statistics surrounding text message scams.
This week is National Consumer Protection Week and it's especially important this year as scammers are becoming more sophisticated than ever, especially when it comes to tricking you on your phone.
Think you would spot a text message scam? Don't be so sure.
'I know people get scammed, I know they do,' Lee, who asked that we don't use his last name, said. He was targeted by one of the top scams of 2025: fake IRS texts.
You'll receive a tax refund of $573,' Lee said. 'We cannot process it due to incomplete personal information. Please confirm your information in the link.'
Pa. Turnpike 'smishing' scam making rounds again
The Better Business Bureau, FTC, and state Attorneys General are warning about a big surge in text scams that have replaced phone call scams.
Ryan Lippe says top scams right now include:
An issue with your tax refund;
A problem with your bank account;
An unpaid highway toll that will result in a big fine.
These scams are more than just a minor inconvenience. For instance, if you get a text message claiming there's a problem with your bank account and you click on it, a scammer can drain that account in a matter of minutes.
The Better Business Bureau says:
never click on texts from the IRS, your bank, or a toll authority;
unsure? Look up the agency and call them.
'If you need help and you want to verify the veracity of a text message, call the source at the number you have legitimately researched,' Holly Palello said. She recently returned home from Florida to receive a text message saying she owed a Florida toll. 'It just said something about a SunPass from Florida.'
Luckily, she got suspicious and didn't reply.
The bottom line is don't answer unknown calls and don't reply to unexpected text messages.
Find more stories on DontWasteYourMoney.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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