Americans lost $470 million to text scams last year, FTC warns

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Scammers may not be texting more frequently, but they are becoming more aggressive. In 2024 alone, Americans reported losing an estimated $470 million to scams that began with a simple text message—five times more than in 2020—according to new data from the Federal Trade Commission.

While the number of scam reports has declined, the amount of money lost has surged, indicating that scam messages are becoming more convincing.

The most common scam involves fake delivery notifications. Victims receive a text claiming there’s an issue with a package, asking them to click a link to reschedule or pay a fee. But the package doesn’t exist, and the link often leads to malicious sites.

Job scams—particularly “task scams”—are also on the rise. These promise easy money for simple online work but often require victims to invest their own funds, which they ultimately lose. Other scams include fake bank fraud alerts, texts about unpaid tolls, and messages from strangers claiming to have texted the wrong number. Though these may appear harmless, they can escalate into flirty or friendly conversations that lead to fraudulent investment opportunities or urgent requests for money.

The FTC advises against clicking on links or replying to unexpected texts, even if they appear legitimate. Instead, contact the company directly using a verified phone number or website.

Most smartphones allow users to filter or block unknown senders. If you receive a suspicious message, forward it to 7726 (which spells “SPAM”) to help your wireless provider identify and block similar messages.

Scams can happen to anyone. The best defense is to stay alert, think twice before clicking, and report suspicious activity at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.