As technology advances, so do the tactics of scammers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released a data spotlight on the top text scams of 2024, revealing a significant increase in financial losses despite a decrease in the number of reports. Specifically, in 2024, reported losses to text scams reached $470 million, more than five times the amount reported in 2020. Due to a lack of reporting, this number reflects only a fraction of the actual losses.
Top Text Scams of 2024
The report identifies the top five text scams, which together account for about half of all text frauds reported to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network in 2024:
1. Fake Package Delivery Problems
Messages about package deliveries, often impersonating the U.S. Postal Service, were the most reported scam. Victims were told there was a problem with their delivery and tricked into paying a small “redelivery fee,” which was a ploy to steal their credit card or Social Security numbers.
2. Phony Job Opportunities
Scammers posed as recruiters offering vague job opportunities. The so-called “task scam” involved victims completing simple tasks, like rating products or apps, and then being asked to send money to withdraw their earnings, which they never received back.
3. Fake Fraud Alerts
Texts mimicking banks or companies like Amazon warned of suspicious activity or large purchases. Victims who responded were connected to fake fraud departments and pressured into transferring money to “secure” accounts, which were controlled by the scammers.
4. Bogus Notices About Unpaid Tolls
Scammers sent texts resembling toll program notifications, prompting victims to click links to pay fake unpaid balances. These scams aimed to steal credit card and Social Security numbers.
5. “Wrong Number” Texts
These scams began with seemingly innocent messages from strangers, like “hello” or “do you want to get a coffee.” Scammers built fake friendships with victims, often with romantic undertones, and eventually lured them into bogus investment schemes, resulting in significant financial losses.
To combat these scams, the FTC recommends that consumers never click on links or respond to unexpected texts and to utilize available tools to block unwanted texts.