Text scams often sound urgent to get you to act quickly. They may include a link that takes you to a fake website where scammers can steal personal information, passwords, card details, banking access, or crypto wallet information.
To make these messages look real, scammers can spoof or copy the phone number and sender ID of businesses or people you know. Scam messages can even appear in the same message chain as real messages from the organisation.
Warning signs it might be a scam
Stop and think. There is a good chance it is a scam if the message asks you to:
- Take immediate action.
- Make a payment or transfer money.
- Click on a link or call a number provided in the message.
- Log on to an online account with your username and password.
- Provide personal, banking, identity, wallet, or security information.
To rush you into acting, the text might also claim something urgent, such as:
You or your accounts have been hacked or involved in fraud.
There is a problem with your payment or package delivery.
A service will be stopped or a fine charged if you do not act now.
Steps you can take to protect yourself
These simple steps can help prevent scammers from stealing your money or personal information.
Never click on links in suspicious messages
Search for the website yourself or use the organisation’s secure, authenticated app or portal to check if the message is real.
Always do an independent check
Do not respond using the phone number provided in the text message. Call the organisation or person back using a phone number you found yourself, such as from their official website, app, or trusted listing.
Be careful with job offers by text
Be suspicious of any job offer sent by text, especially without an interview or proper discussion. Research the person or business offering the position and only contact them through independently verified details.
Check “new number” messages carefully
If someone you know messages saying they have a new number, try calling them on the existing number you already have. You can also ask a question only they would know the answer to.
Do not share codes or passwords
Never share one-time codes, banking passwords, wallet details, seed phrases, or identity documents through text message.