A scam text usually starts with something ordinary: a package notice, bank warning, toll bill, or message from someone who says they are family.

That is why these messages work. They do not ask you to be foolish. They ask you to be busy, worried, helpful, or curious long enough to tap the wrong thing.

The safest response is simple: pause before you do anything. You can check your bank, delivery, Medicare, Amazon, or family situation another way. You do not have to solve it from inside the text message.

Quick answer

  1. Do not tap, reply, or call the number in the message.
  2. Contact the company or person another way.
  3. Forward the text to 7726, which spells SPAM.
  4. Block the sender and delete the message.
  5. If you clicked or shared information, take action right away.
Already clicked, paid, or shared information?
Skip ahead to what to do next. Acting quickly matters more than feeling embarrassed.

The family rule: verify outside the text

The rule
Never trust the phone number, link, or instructions inside a suspicious text. Verify the message another way.

If the text says it is from your bank, use the bank app or call the number on your card. If it says it is from Amazon, open Amazon yourself. If it says your grandchild has a new number and needs money, call the old number or another family member first.

This is the habit that matters most. You are not becoming a scam expert. You are refusing to let the suspicious text control the next step.

Common scam text examples

  • Package problem: USPS, UPS, FedEx, or another delivery company needs your address or a small payment. Use the official app or website instead.
  • Bank account locked: your card was suspended or your account has suspicious activity. Open the bank app or call the number on your card.
  • Toll road fee: you owe a small toll and will owe more if you do not pay. Type your state’s toll road website yourself.
  • “Hi Grandma, I got a new phone”: the person asks for money, gift cards, or payment app transfers. Stop texting and call the family.
  • Unexpected account charge: Apple, PayPal, Amazon, or your bank says you were charged. Open the real app or website and check.

How to tell if a text is probably a scam

Watch for these patterns:

  • It asks you to tap an unexpected link.
  • It pressures you: “final notice,” “act now,” or “your account will be closed.”
  • It asks for a password, code, bank login, Medicare number, Social Security number, or card number.
  • It asks for payment by gift card, crypto, wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or Apple Cash.
  • It tells you not to call, not to tell anyone, or to keep it secret.

That last one matters for family scams. “Please don’t tell Mom” may sound personal, but it can also isolate the victim.

Report it, then delete it

  1. Take a screenshot if you want a record.
  2. Forward the message to 7726.
  3. Use “Report Junk” or “Report Spam” if your phone offers it.
  4. Block the sender.
  5. Delete the message.

To forward a text, press and hold the message, tap More or Forward, enter 7726, and send it.

Keep perspective
Reporting helps, but it is not the most important part. The most important part is not tapping the link or replying.

What if you already clicked?

Do not panic. The risk depends on what happened after the click.

  • Clicked but entered nothing: close the page. Do not call, download, or fill anything out.
  • Entered a password: change it from the real website or app. Change it anywhere else you reused it.
  • Shared a verification code: change the password from the real website or app right away. Then check the account's security settings, recovery information, and recent activity. If you cannot get into the account, contact the real company through its official app or website.
  • Entered bank or card information: call the number on the back of your card.
  • Shared a Social Security or Medicare number: consider a fraud alert or credit freeze, and watch statements.
  • Sent money: contact the bank, payment app, or card company immediately.

Do not let embarrassment slow you down. Banks and payment companies deal with scams every day.

Make a family scam plan before there is a scam

This is where family caregivers can help without taking over.

A simple family rule

“If a text asks for money, passwords, gift cards, account information, or urgent action, call me before doing anything.”

Pick a phrase your parent can use when they are unsure, such as “Can you help me check this?” It should mean no judgment, no lecture, and no eye-rolling. Just help.

For family impersonation scams, choose a verification code like “blue teapot” or “Mango Tuesday.” If someone texts asking for urgent money and cannot answer the code, stop texting and call the family.

Caregiver checklist

  1. Save important contacts clearly on their phone.
  2. Add you or another trusted person as an emergency contact.
  3. Show them how to screenshot a suspicious text.
  4. Show them how to forward spam texts to 7726.
  5. Turn on spam filtering if their phone offers it.
  6. Write down official numbers for their bank, Medicare, insurance, and pharmacy.
  7. Agree on a “call before paying” rule.
  8. Agree on a family verification code.

The goal is not to make anyone afraid of every text. The goal is to make asking for help normal before something expensive happens.

How to block spam texts

On a current iPhone: open the conversation, tap the sender's icon at the top, tap Info, scroll down, then tap Block Contact. To screen messages from new numbers, open Messages → Filters → Manage Filtering, then turn on Screen Unknown Senders. Older iPhones may use slightly different wording.

In Google Messages on Android: touch and hold the conversation, tap Block, then choose Report spam → OK. From an open conversation, tap More options → Details → Block & report spam → OK. Messaging apps vary, so the wording may be different on some Android phones.

Google Messages also offers spam protection under profile picture or initials → Messages settings → Spam protection.

Avoid these traps
Do not reply “STOP” unless you know the sender is legitimate. Do not argue, tap out of curiosity, trust caller ID, or send screenshots that show private information.

A note for adult children and caregivers

If your parent asks about a suspicious text, reward the behavior you want.

Try: “Good catch. I’m glad you asked before tapping anything.”

If they already clicked or replied, start with: “Okay, we can handle this. Let’s figure out what information they got.”

You can be firm without being condescending. That matters, because if asking for help turns into a lecture, they may not ask next time.

When to get more help

Get help quickly if money was sent, banking information was entered, a Social Security or Medicare number was shared, a password was entered, an app was downloaded, or the scammer is still pressuring your parent.

Call the bank, credit card company, Medicare, or the real organization involved. Use official phone numbers, not numbers from the text. You can report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The bottom line

A scam text wants you to react before you think. Do the opposite.

Pause. Do not tap. Verify another way. Ask someone you trust if you are unsure.

If you help an older parent or relative, make it easy for them to ask. The goal is to keep one suspicious text from turning into a very bad afternoon.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I get a scam text message?

Do not tap the link, reply, or call the number in the message. Contact the company another way, report the text to 7726, then block and delete it.

What if I clicked a scam text link?

Close the page. If you entered a password or shared a verification code, change the password from the real site or app and check the account's security settings. If you entered bank or credit card information, call your bank using the number on the back of your card.

Should I reply STOP to a suspicious text?

Only reply STOP if you know the sender is legitimate. With scam texts, replying can confirm that your phone number is active.

Sources

FTC spam text guidance, FTC phishing guidance, FTC verification-code scam alert, Apple text filtering guidance, Google Messages spam guidance, and FCC unwanted calls and texts guidance.