How to identify a fake text message
Do you know what smishing is?
According to TechReport, there’s a 75% chance you don’t, as fewer than one in four Americans are aware of it.
It’s better to know, however, because smishing was the third-most common fraud technique in 2023—leading to over $372 million in losses.
But you’re here, which means you want to learn.
We’ll teach you how to spot smishing—that is, fake text messages—effectively.
Here are five signs that’ll help you identify scam text messages.
What’s considered a fake text message?
Fake text messages are used to carry out scam attempts via SMS, known as “smishing.”
These scams are designed to trick people into handing over money or personal information that can be used to commit identity theft and fraud.
Quickly spot a fake text message by verifying if:
- It uses vague or generic language.
- It includes some bait designed to grab your attention.
- The message aims to trigger strong emotions in you.
- It pressures you to act quickly.
- It prompts you to take action.
If you notice any of these tell-tale signs, it’s likely you’ve been targeted by scammers.
In that case, double-check the information from the text message—for example, if it says something about your bank account, contact your bank’s customer service department to verify that it’s true before taking any other action.
Read on for an in-depth analysis.
Identify fake text messages
Spotting smishing attempts won’t always be easy. Scammers learn and adapt, using increasingly sophisticated methods.
Take spelling mistakes, for example.
They used to be one of the most telling signs of fake texts, but that’s no longer true.
Fraudsters go the extra mile these days to successfully impersonate others—that includes spoofing official numbers, paying attention to details, and even creating copies of official websites.
But—
There are still ways of telling whether you’re being targeted by a scammer or not.
To make it easier, we’ve developed the UBERA technique to help you remember.
That is:
- U: Universal Language: Scammers use generic and vague expressions to appeal to a broad audience.
- B: Bait: They will try to grab your attention with a threat or an offer you simply can’t ignore.
- E: Emotion: Scammers often use language designed to evoke strong emotions, making you more likely to act impulsively.
- R: Rush: You’ll be put under a false sense of urgency to act quickly, leaving no time to think or hesitate.
- A: Action Prompt: There will always be a link for you to click, a call to make, or a message to send.
Most fake text messages will have a clearly noticeable combination of these warning signs.
Sometimes, these elements may not be expressed explicitly, but all fake text messages include a call to action.
Without any action on your side, the scam can’t happen.
A set of good practices to remember:
- Ignore any suspicious links in text messages.
- Do not follow other instructions—like calling or sending a message.
- Examine the number and links closely—scam and spam text messages often use odd-looking numbers and links.
- Always double-check the information—if there are claims that your bank account is being hacked, the bank’s call center should be able to verify that for you.
- Remember that legitimate companies and government agencies never ask for your personal or financial information via text messages.
- Report and block any messages you suspect are fake.
Now, let’s take a deeper dive into the UBERA system.
Look out for the use of universal language
Scams will nearly always include universal language.
Fake text messages are usually sent in the thousands if not hundreds of thousands.
It’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall—most will fall off, but some will stick.
However, to appeal to a broad audience, scammers have to use language that doesn’t include personal details or specific information.
- Instead of “Dear Adam,” you’ll see “Dear client.”
- Instead of “your appointment with Dr House on July 20,” you’ll see “your upcoming medical appointment,” and so on.
Look out for general, vague, or unspecified language, as it’s a tell-tale sign of a potential scam.
Be careful not to fall for the bait
What follows is usually the bait—a sentence that’s designed to hook you in.
Scammers love to lure you into their schemes with too-good-to-be-true offers, security risks, or claims of lost packages.
You might be:
- Promised a hefty tax refund
- Warned that your bank account has been hacked
- Told your Amazon order lacks a correct address
Or—
- Declared the winner of a lottery.
The opportunities are endless, and scammers are coming up with trickier and trickier bait.
We would all love to strike it rich. But let’s face it—if it were to happen, it wouldn’t be via a fishy text message.
Don’t let emotions get the best of you
With your mind at ease, you’re more likely to approach things with caution.
Fraudsters don’t want that.
So, text message scams often try to evoke emotions likely to push you into quick and thoughtless actions.
These may be:
- Negative emotions like fear, stress, or even panic—for example, that you’re about to have your bank account hacked.
- Or positive ones like excitement, desire, or greed—from winning a lottery to being eligible for a free prize.
Scammers will try to rush you into action
Good bait and strong emotions may not be enough to throw you off your guard.
Another trick is to create a false sense of urgency—the less time you have to think about something, the more likely you are to act hastily.
A good text message scam causes you to act in a rush.
You may receive a text notifying you of suspicious activity on your bank account—and that you have only 15 minutes to take action before your account is closed.
Such urgency makes you less likely to spot warning signs.
There will always be an action prompt
Finally—
Scammers text you to provoke action.
For that to happen, there’ll always be straightforward instructions on how to do something.
This may involve:
- Opening a link from the message
- Sending back a message
- Or making a call.
Take a bank security warning, for example.
After rushing you to take action, scammers will provide a link to change your bank account password.
Of course, this is a malicious link, leading you right into their trap.
Learn how to identify a fake text message by looking at examples
Repetitio est mater studiorum, says the old saying.
Repetition is indeed the mother of all learning.
The more examples you analyze, the better you’ll get at spotting smishing attempts.
Here are some popular fake messages—broken down. We’ve taken them apart piece by piece to show you the warning signs.
We’ll contrast them with actual messages coming from various institutions to help you see the difference even better.
Example 1: The investigation text scam
This scam can take many forms.
You may be warned about tax fraud—as in the example below—but this is just one of countless possibilities.
Scammers aim to scare you and rush you into action. As a result, you could end up paying a hefty price for the call.
Example 2: The delivery text scam
We’re all eager to get our packages on time.
And scammers aim to exploit that eagerness.
The delivery scam is popular and dangerous because its scenario is entirely plausible.
People who have just ordered something expect to receive a message regarding the delivery.
If the timing is just right, it’s very easy to fall for it.
Example 3: The account activity text scam
Likely, you’ve already confirmed changes to one of your accounts via text message.
Two-factor authentication using mobile phones is probably the most common form of additional security these days.
So, receiving updates on your phone is entirely normal.
And that’s precisely what scammers exploit.
They’ll send text scams about a security breach, password change, or something similar, luring you into clicking a link.
Important: Notice that not all components of the UBERA technique are present. They don’t have to be mentioned explicitly, but elements like emotion and rush are a natural reaction to finding out our private pictures are being shared with a stranger.
The bottom line
Legitimate companies and institutions no longer rely heavily on text messages.
Nowadays, there’s an app for everything, and you’d most likely be notified via the app or an email if any real changes needed to be made (to your account, delivery address, etc.).
SMS phishing becomes more elaborate each year, but companies seem to be moving away from using text messages, too—especially for important notifications.
If you receive a text message prompting you to take action, it’s almost certainly a scam.
FAQ
What does a fake text message look like?
The easiest way to spot a fake text message is by looking for suspicious links or other prompts for action. Luring you into taking action is the only way scammers can succeed. To achieve this, a scam text often tries to evoke strong emotions or rush you into making quick decisions.
Can SMS messages be faked?
SMS messages can be faked and, in fact, they often are. Scammers can now spoof nearly any number they wish, sending out thousands of fake SMS messages to extort information or money from people.
How do you respond to fake texts?
If you receive unwanted text messages that you suspect are fake, do not respond to them. Instead, ignore the message, block the number, and report it.
