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The safest way to handle a suspicious message is to pause, avoid its links and payment instructions, and verify the claim through contact details you find independently. No device or security tool can prevent every scam, but a few habits can reduce the chance of losing money or account access—and help you respond quickly if something goes wrong.
What are the signs of a scam?
Unexpected contact deserves caution, especially when the sender claims to represent a government agency, company, friend, relative, or romantic interest and demands quick action. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) puts it plainly: “Scammers tell you to hurry.” Pressure is a reason to stop and check, not a reason to act faster.
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Watch for requests to send money, reveal sensitive information, or resolve an alleged account or delivery problem through a link or phone number in the message. Caller ID, a familiar name, and a convincing logo do not prove who contacted you. Nor does polished writing prove a message is genuine; scams do not have to contain spelling mistakes.
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How can you check whether a message is really from an organization?
- Do not use the message to verify itself. Avoid its links, attachments, phone numbers, and website addresses.
- Reach the organization independently. Enter a website address you already know, open its established app, or find a phone number from a source you trust.
- Check the claim through that channel. If the message says your account is locked, a payment is overdue, or a delivery is delayed, sign in or contact support independently to see whether the issue is real.
- Report and delete the suspicious message. Do not reply or provide personal or financial details.
The FTC explains that phishing messages can try to steal passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. Its guidance on recognizing and avoiding phishing scams is at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-avoid-phishing-scams.
Where to report phishing messages
Forward suspicious texts to SPAM (7726). You can also forward phishing emails to [email protected]. Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How do you make your accounts harder to take over?
Use a different strong password for every account
A password reused across services can put multiple accounts at risk if one is exposed. Use a distinct, hard-to-guess password for each account, and change any password you learn has been compromised.
Turn on multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) asks for another proof of identity in addition to a password. The factors generally fall into three categories: something you know, such as a password; something you possess, such as a phone, code, or security key; or something inherent, such as a biometric. Use MFA when a service offers it. The FTC notes that it makes it harder for a scammer to log in with a stolen username and password, but no method guarantees an account is safe.
A FIDO-compatible hardware security key is one possible physical second factor. Check that the account or service supports the key and its connection method before buying one; a security key is not a scam detector or a complete protection system.
Keep software updated and back up important data
Install software updates when available and keep backups of important files. These steps support recovery if a device is compromised or data is lost; they do not establish whether a message or offer is legitimate.
What should you do if you already clicked, paid, or shared information?
Act promptly and choose the steps that match what happened. Recovery is not guaranteed, but quick contact with the relevant provider may preserve options.
If you sent money
- Contact the bank, card issuer, wire service, payment app, or other provider you used as soon as possible.
- Tell them the payment was connected to a scam and ask whether it can be stopped, reversed, or otherwise addressed.
- Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you shared a password
Change it on the affected account and anywhere else you reused it. Turn on two-factor authentication. If you cannot sign in, use the service’s official account-recovery process, reached through its known website or app.
If you shared identity information
If you gave out your Social Security number or other identity information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a tailored recovery plan and next steps.
If you gave someone remote access or downloaded a suspicious file
Update your security software, run a scan, and remove any problems it detects. From a device you trust, change passwords that may have been exposed. If you need help, contact the device maker or another support source you trust—not a number or link supplied by the suspicious contact.
If you clicked but did not share information or lose money
Do not continue interacting with the message or open additional links or files. If you downloaded a file, use the device steps above. Report the message through the channels listed earlier and monitor the account or service named in the message by checking it independently.
What do recent FTC figures say about scams?
FTC reporting offers useful context, but its figures describe reports received and reported losses—not every scam or the full amount lost. The FTC said that in 2025 it received more than 1 million imposter-scam reports, with reported losses increasing nearly 20% to $3.5 billion. These numbers are not a measure of an individual’s odds of being scammed. See the FTC’s May 2026 report on imposter scams.
In a separate May 2026 summary of 2025 reports, the FTC said more people reported scam contact by text than by any other method, while reported losses overall were highest for scams originating on social media. Contact frequency and reported loss totals are different measures; neither means every text or social-media message is fraudulent. See the FTC’s summary of how scammers tried to reach people.
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