STOP! THAT TEXT IS A SCAM

[{"selector":"#anim-d9efa712-ad27-427d-88ea-61b9d7229aad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c9005c9-9d76-4767-9d9c-6ae205fe2438","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.27272%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c170a6d3-138a-40c4-9b38-e9a99c96e30c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b7579fe-ca22-4c27-a11d-b2fa92fada46","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-876c092b-0830-472d-b35a-18a440421549","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2efdf9cb-f3e1-4d80-8e33-0cd12b3286bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 237.26049%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":350,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-775b7838-b27c-44e9-85f1-3a1f11d11c44","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] SCAM ALERT SCAM ALERT Fake tolls, USPS and bank texts, and what to do File photo: Ed Yourdon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

$470 million lost

[{"selector":"#anim-062c62bd-8704-41d9-b513-5f91e2e0a1f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ed60b7e-d570-4e63-b862-e358b56d6340","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32c3a122-5155-4dad-a28e-366dc0b8d980","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0314cee4-79a2-4697-af18-3a6f38475bdb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b4f2623-9136-46ae-9c08-7d65482a95cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5aa8065-5b4a-40fa-b2c8-e7db783d6bfe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-603e7f93-08d5-48aa-93ed-b0ea62019125","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] THE DAMAGE THE DAMAGE The FTC says Americans lost $470M in 2024 to scams that began with a text. File photo: Ed Yourdon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

"Unpaid toll"

[{"selector":"#anim-03de89dc-1c4a-4778-bed3-6177a9b1bd59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80cf981a-5e84-4bc6-8e5d-0a598cbf641a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35ab3740-86e1-4817-b287-c613868037b8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a266e23-62b4-466f-9c80-76dbe67d01b9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ba7ee5e-73f2-4223-88b9-4bdf3e505828","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bf120e1-4d06-45fa-9d02-ff6ceb65cd83","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8089a1d4-5a69-4933-92c3-06f88203f994","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] SCAM #1 SCAM #1 Toll agencies don't text you links to pay. Check your account directly. File photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

"Package on hold"

[{"selector":"#anim-de7516b4-4f6d-47ce-ac1f-57c7ff5e6f0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f71730b-07c8-43b2-a335-7a8faaea3e7a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5841858c-503a-4c00-899a-038b1efe5ebf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f82c4435-3f6c-47fd-82e2-17289b7baa78","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42061320-2cdb-4a7f-aa88-6c4d9a531d17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ca27828-b1ae-4593-b9c4-2a9b49712172","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5583d8c4-30a0-4855-9589-0a413004abf1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] SCAM #2 SCAM #2 Fake USPS texts want your card number. Track packages on usps.com. File photo: Ed Yourdon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

"Account locked"

[{"selector":"#anim-b20cfc1c-7fe4-4354-bf5e-43421e0a18f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7910ddeb-32d3-428f-b90a-c14e5e64257a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f26944c-7844-49e8-9c44-ca0ca9444502","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21469341-8912-442c-a4d8-e6d444b98d74","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b455b81c-0f51-4558-a53d-96d3e71e055d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a0b976f-40bf-4c02-8386-fc504a6daaf5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-321a3a5a-1b17-4f70-a493-ab0b9ef1c3d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] SCAM #3 SCAM #3 Fake bank alerts. Call the number on the back of your card instead. File photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Urgency and links

[{"selector":"#anim-15ac5633-286d-48a1-886e-e4780ec9bd45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14ab034a-378f-4469-954e-b9a035c1b645","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-687782df-4db4-4e96-9fba-4600c3d0ae74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13f97964-4984-4153-943b-df0f148224c3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84d1d421-7ce5-4b5c-834c-c5de6ca392c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a572760b-8c19-40e3-a9ba-e986fb76058f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f798ee1-1298-4229-b48a-0366affd2fad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] RED FLAGS RED FLAGS "Pay today," odd links and requests for codes are signs of a scam. File photo: Ed Yourdon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Forward to 7726

[{"selector":"#anim-d31fff1c-32d8-492f-8bed-abf0270bcab5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97c51a04-1bdc-4d3a-a97d-b058e278a073","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c6da0b7-5ca2-4884-b097-8843fd2fc0da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-902e1088-4391-4ce1-b438-e058b47c1add","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20313f8a-fea5-49e4-adb3-5e47afe83439","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0682b4ed-d66e-4c52-a160-473a9c7e2143","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd6ef731-ff57-4578-b31d-dddec1839d21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] REPORT IT REPORT IT Free with major U.S. carriers. Then report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. File photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Reply "STOP"

[{"selector":"#anim-0bdab481-09b2-4b07-b3dd-d80447cf9bc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a480e5a-2fdb-40c8-a43a-104d77bd3090","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f52d2049-9e1f-41ea-8e22-b9c3e1808a1b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b98bbf38-b0a9-4cea-a159-c88be26a71a9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01cbd952-9728-48fb-a304-83fe0d50e423","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d85d7cdb-6126-4da6-80aa-ae1602c1884d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-782f94df-22a1-42bc-9f70-3732b5015688","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] DON'T DON'T Replying confirms your number. Report, block and delete. File photo: Ed Yourdon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Call your bank now

[{"selector":"#anim-a820e6c6-0dda-440c-8304-23105e6b4648","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0a6e5a7-3594-4e07-8839-242f1215fd73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.05882%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af6971d8-c780-4e46-9cad-74c07c8879ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1482c1d2-bd37-4ab5-859d-0c2029776bf5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-417623cd-90b0-4a66-8925-3d583d2abf2c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d8fd768-54fd-45d3-a2c6-40e5f6b5db1a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6517c289-2192-42ff-9b07-f03c2359ac2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] ALREADY CLICKED? ALREADY CLICKED? Block the card, change passwords, and freeze your credit if needed. File photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Don't get scammed

[{"selector":"#anim-283e1212-5bd1-453b-8750-8eaa8b8db158","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":200,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11aab93a-dd08-453a-bf25-4d39fffaa330","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f40cfaf1-dbac-433c-9330-a6242b25ee62","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-decdb140-5f42-4c90-99eb-a4a8d7e657ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 461.11116%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d282319-6402-4f23-aa27-d3739abeda5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-857c209e-61da-46d5-a151-ab782e750f02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38192ec2-e58e-4d10-a6c1-f2cd68da0a37","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30e4383f-40e9-4820-8ee9-b9b7d78b1137","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6157ba7-c87f-4bdf-baf8-6006fd4df76b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] FREE U.S. GUIDE FREE U.S. GUIDE 7 warning signs, common scams and a step-by-step recovery plan. READ THE FULL GUIDE → nexgenheadlines.com Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY / CC BY-SA) and public domain, shown as file photos. General information, not legal or financial advice. Read the full guide