U.S. consumers lost $470 million to text-messaging scams last year, and as they become more sophisticated, more people are likely to be victims.
The amount lost to scams in 2024 is four times as much as what was reported just four years ago, and a Virginia Tech expert thinks technology could make the scams more realistic and trick more even more people in the future.
“It’s easy for scammers to use publicly available information from social media to automate highly targeted and convincingly written text messages,” said data privacy expert Murat Kantarcioglu. “A simple post from New York City could trigger a fake parking ticket message claiming to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles.”
Some of the scams have language like:
- “Notice: Your vehicle was identified as having an unpaid toll. Click now to pay your balance.”
- “We attempted to deliver your package today but were unsuccessful. Please schedule a redelivery or provide payment for a small fee through the link.”
- “I’m a recruiter, and I have a job offer for you. Just provide your social security number for a background check.”
Artificial intelligence may even create realistic images and generate audio that mimics the voice of a loved one opening the door to manipulative scams including fake emergency calls.
Kantarcioglu recommends that users never respond to text messages from unverified sources or take an action like clicking a link or providing information based on a text message alone.
“Scammers can craft messages that appear realistic either because they have background information or they can simply get lucky,” he said. “You may have actually used a toll road two days ago or ordered something online, making the message seem legitimate.”
While the numbers are high, the actual cost is unknown. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the vast majority of fraud is never reported.
“Victims may hesitate to come forward due to embarrassment, but reporting the crime can help prevent further harm and protect the others from similar scams,” Kantarcioglu said. “Notify your credit card company or bank as soon as possible, and then report the scam to law enforcement.”
How to report spam text messages
If you get an unwanted text message, the FTC recommends you use one of these three ways to report it:
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
- Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
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Crystal Graham
