How to Spot a Scam Text: The 10 Most Common US Scams and What to Do
Toll and delivery texts, fake bank alerts, IRS imposters, task jobs, crypto romance and more: the warning signs of each, and exactly what to do if you already clicked or paid.
By the MoneyBackKit team · Updated October 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Scam texts and calls follow a small number of patterns. Once you know them, most are easy to spot: someone you didn't contact is rushing you to click a link, share a code or pay in a way you can't take back. Below are the 10 scams we see most in the US, the warning signs of each, and exactly what to do if you already clicked or paid.
Five signs almost every scam shares
- It came to you first. A text, call or email you didn't ask for, often from an unknown number.
- It's urgent. Pay today, your account will be closed, a warrant is out, a package will be returned.
- It wants a code or a password. No real bank, agency or company asks you to read back a one-time code.
- It wants hard-to-reverse payment. Gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, Zelle, or cash in the mail.
- The link isn't the official website. Look closely at the address; scammers use look-alike names.
The most common scams right now
🚗 Unpaid toll or traffic ticket text
A text claims you owe a small toll (E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, TxTag) or a DMV ticket and must pay today to avoid fees or license suspension. The link goes to a fake payment page that steals your card details.
- Warning sign: Link is not your toll agency's official website
- Warning sign: Threat of fees or license suspension 'today'
- What to do: Don't click. Check your account on the toll agency's official site or app.
- What to do: Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it.
📦 Package delivery / USPS redelivery scam
A text or email says a USPS, UPS or FedEx package can't be delivered because of an incomplete address or unpaid fee. USPS doesn't text tracking updates unless you signed up for that package.
- Warning sign: You weren't expecting a package or didn't sign up for texts
- Warning sign: Asks for a small fee or card details
- What to do: Track packages only on usps.com, ups.com or fedex.com.
🏦 Fake bank fraud alert
A text that looks like your bank asks 'Did you attempt a $1,250 purchase?' Then a 'fraud department' calls and asks for the code they texted you, or tells you to move money to a 'safe account' or send it by Zelle to yourself.
- Warning sign: Asks for a one-time code, PIN or password
- Warning sign: Tells you to move money to 'protect' it
- What to do: Hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
- What to do: Never share codes. Banks never ask you to move money to a safe account.
🏛️ IRS / Social Security / police imposter
A caller or message says your Social Security number is suspended, you owe the IRS, or there's a warrant for your arrest. They demand payment by gift card, wire, crypto or cash.
- Warning sign: Threats of arrest or suspension
- Warning sign: Payment by gift card, crypto or wire
- What to do: Government agencies don't threaten arrest by phone or ask for gift cards. Hang up.
💻 Fake invoice / tech support refund scam
An email 'invoice' says you were charged $399 for Geek Squad, Norton, McAfee or PayPal and gives a number to call to cancel. The 'agent' asks for remote access to your computer and fakes a refund to steal money.
- Warning sign: Charge you don't recognize + a phone number to 'cancel'
- Warning sign: Asks to install AnyDesk/TeamViewer
- What to do: Check your real accounts directly. Never call numbers in surprise invoices.
💼 Remote job / task scam
You're offered easy remote work rating products or liking videos for $200–$800 a day. After small payouts you must deposit money (often crypto) to unlock tasks, and you never get it back.
- Warning sign: Unsolicited job offer by text or WhatsApp
- Warning sign: You must pay or deposit to earn
- What to do: Real employers never ask you to pay to work.
💘 Crypto investment / 'wrong number' romance scam
It starts with a 'wrong number' text or a dating match. After weeks of friendly chat, they introduce a crypto trading platform with guaranteed returns. The app shows fake profits, but you can't withdraw.
- Warning sign: 'Wrong number' that keeps chatting
- Warning sign: Guaranteed or very high returns
- What to do: Don't invest with anyone you've only met online.
🎁 Prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam
You 'won' a prize, car or lottery you never entered, but must pay taxes, shipping or a processing fee first. Real sweepstakes never ask winners to pay.
- Warning sign: You never entered
- Warning sign: Pay a fee to claim
- What to do: Don't pay. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
📲 Zelle / Venmo / Cash App 'sent by mistake'
Someone says they sent you money by mistake and asks you to send it back, or a buyer 'overpays' and asks for the difference. The original payment is fake or later reversed, and your money is gone.
- Warning sign: Money 'sent by mistake' you can't see in your own app
- Warning sign: Pressure to send money back fast
- What to do: Check your balance in the app itself. Contact the payment app's support, not the sender.
👵 Family emergency / 'Hi Mom' / grandparent scam
A text from a 'new number' or a call (sometimes with an AI-cloned voice) says a child or grandchild is in trouble, in jail or in hospital and needs money now, and asks you to keep it secret.
- Warning sign: New number + urgent money request
- Warning sign: Asks you to keep it secret
- What to do: Call your relative on their old number or ask a family question only they would know.
If you already clicked, paid or shared something
- Paid by credit or debit card: call the number on the back of your card right away, report fraud and ask for a dispute (chargeback).
- Sent a bank transfer, Zelle or wire: call your bank immediately and ask them to try to recall or freeze the payment. The faster, the better.
- Paid with gift cards: contact the gift card company using the number on the card or its website and report it; keep the cards and receipts.
- Gave a password or code: change that password, and any account that uses the same one, and turn on two-step sign-in.
- Gave your Social Security number: go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, and consider freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (free).
Report it
- Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender.
- Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports help shut scams down.
- Online crimes with money lost can also be reported to the FBI's IC3.gov.