Scam Texts in 2026: How to Spot Fake Toll, USPS and Bank Texts and Report Them

Quick answer: A text that pushes you to tap a link and pay or verify something fast is almost always a scam. Don’t click or reply. Forward it to 7726, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, then block and delete. If you already paid, call your bank right away.

“Your toll balance is overdue.” “USPS: your package is on hold.” “Your bank account is locked.” If texts like these have landed on your phone, you’re not alone. The FTC says Americans reported losing $470 million in 2024 to scams that started with a text message, and fake unpaid-toll texts were among the most reported. Here is how to spot them in seconds, report them, and what to do if you already clicked.

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7 signs a text is a scam

1. It creates urgency: “pay today or face fines.”
2. It asks you to tap a link to pay, verify or reschedule.
3. The link looks off: odd spellings, extra words or unusual endings.
4. It comes from an email address or random number, not a short code you know.
5. It asks for card numbers, passwords or one-time codes.
6. It offers a prize, refund or job you never applied for.
7. It says something “went wrong” with an order you never placed.

Common scam texts in the U.S. right now

How to report a scam text (takes 1 minute)

1. Forward it to 7726 (spells “SPAM”). This free service works with major U.S. carriers.
2. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. Use “Report Junk” on iPhone or “Report spam” on Android, then block the number.
4. For the toll scam, the FBI also takes reports at ic3.gov.
5. Then delete the message.

Already clicked or paid? Do this now

• Call your bank or card issuer using the number on your card; ask to block the card and dispute the charge (see how to dispute a credit card charge).
• Change the password of any account you entered, and turn on two-factor login.
• If you gave your Social Security number, freeze your credit and go to IdentityTheft.gov.
• Run a security update on your phone.

How big the problem is

Text scams keep growing because they are cheap and they work. The FTC says people reported losing $470 million to scams that started with a text in 2024. That’s more than five times the losses reported in 2020, and the real number is likely higher because most people never report.

Texts work for scammers for a simple reason. We read almost every text within minutes, and a short message on a small screen hides the clues you’d catch on a computer.

Real vs. fake: how official texts actually look

The “reply Y” trick on iPhone

iPhones turn off links in texts from unknown senders. So many scam texts now say something like “Reply Y, then exit and reopen this message to activate the link.” Replying turns the link on and tells the scammer your number is real. If a text asks you to reply just to make a link work, that alone tells you it’s fake.

Turn on free text filters

• iPhone: go to Settings, then Messages (or Apps, then Messages on newer iOS), and turn on Filter Unknown Senders under Unknown Senders. Texts from people not in your contacts go to a separate list.
• Android (Google Messages): open Messages, tap your profile photo, then Messages settings, then Spam protection, and turn it on.
• Samsung Messages: open Settings in the app, then Block numbers and spam.
• Your carrier: T-Mobile Scam Shield, AT&T ActiveArmor and Verizon’s spam filters also screen texts on many plans.

Since 2023, the FCC has also required carriers to block texts from numbers that are clearly invalid or not assigned to anyone. It helps, but scammers switch numbers quickly, so your own filters still matter.

Also read: How to stop robocalls and spam calls: the free 5-minute setup. The same scam groups often call and text.

Where to report each type of scam text

Made-up examples: how two people handled it

These are made-up examples to show how the steps work.

Carla in Florida got an “unpaid SunPass toll of $6.99” text. She almost paid because she’d driven the turnpike that week. Instead she opened her SunPass app. Her balance was $0. She forwarded the text to 7726 and deleted it.

James in Illinois clicked a fake “USPS redelivery” link and entered his card. An hour later he realized his mistake. He called his card company, which canceled the card and stopped a $300 charge before it went through.

Mistakes that make it worse

• Calling the phone number in the text. It connects you to the scammer. Use the number on your card or the official website.
• Replying “STOP” to unknown numbers. Only do this for real businesses you signed up with.
• Waiting to call your bank. The faster you call, the better your chance of stopping the charge.
• Paying a “recovery service.” People who promise to get your lost money back for a fee are often scammers too.
• Thinking a local area code makes it safe. Scammers fake those easily.

Protect older family members

Older adults lose more money per scam on average. A 10-minute setup helps: turn on spam filters on their phone, save their bank’s real number in contacts, and agree on one rule. “We never pay anything from a text. We call each other first.”

Frequently asked questions

Bottom line

Treat every unexpected text with a link as fake until you check it yourself in the official app or website. Don’t click, don’t reply, forward to 7726 and report to the FTC. If you already paid, call your bank today.

Sources: FTC – Top text scams of 2024; FTC – How to recognize and report spam texts; FBI IC3 – Toll scam alert; U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Smishing; IRS – Report phishing; FCC – Text message scams.

Last reviewed: Oct. 23, 2026. Rules and websites can change; always use the official links in this guide.

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