Spotting Scam Calls & Texts
Learn to recognize and handle fraudulent phone calls and text messages that try to steal your money or personal information.
Why Scam Calls Are So Common Today
If you feel like you're getting more suspicious calls and texts than ever before, you're absolutely right. The Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud in a single recent year — and phone-based scams are one of the biggest contributors.
Why Has This Gotten So Bad?
There are a few reasons scam calls have exploded in recent years:
- Technology makes it cheap. Scammers can make thousands of calls per minute using automated computer systems. It costs them almost nothing, so even if only one person in a thousand falls for it, they still profit.
- Your phone number is easy to find. Data breaches, public records, and online directories mean your number is likely available to anyone who looks for it.
- Caller ID can be faked. A call that shows your bank's name or a local number on the screen may actually be coming from anywhere in the world. This trick is called "spoofing," and it's shockingly easy to do.
Who Gets Targeted?
Here's something important to understand: scammers target everyone. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, retirees — people from every background have lost money to phone scams. These criminals are professional manipulators. They use urgency, fear, and authority to pressure people into acting quickly before they have time to think.
If you've ever gotten a suspicious call, that doesn't mean someone thinks you're gullible. It means your phone number ended up on a list, and a computer dialed it automatically.
The Two Main Types of Phone Scams
Robocalls are pre-recorded messages that play automatically when you answer. You might hear: "This is the Social Security Administration. Your Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity. Press 1 to speak with an agent."
No government agency will ever call you with a recorded message like that.
Smishing is the name for scam text messages ("SMS" + "phishing" = "smishing"). These often look like delivery notifications, bank alerts, or messages from companies you know. They usually include a link they want you to tap.
The Golden Rule
When in doubt, hang up and call back using a number you trust. Look up the organization's number on their official website, on the back of your card, or on a statement. Never use a phone number that the caller gives you — that just connects you back to the scammer.