Everything you need to know about fraudulent SMS messages

Fraudulent SMS are a scourge that affects millions of people every day and represent a growing threat to digital security. These messages, sometimes called “smishing” (a term that combines SMS and phishing), are attempts to trick users into stealing their personal, financial, or professional information.

What are the main types of fraudulent SMS? How to recognize them? How can marketing experts ensure that their SMS communications are perceived as reliable and professional? We answer you in this article.

The techniques used in fraudulent SMS

Fraudsters certainly do not lack imagination when it comes to designing deceptive SMS! Let’s talk together about the most frequently used tactics.

Identity theft (or “spoofing”): Scammers send messages using numbers or contact names that look like those of known services (banks, administrations, etc.). This creates a false sense of trust in the recipient in order to extract information from them.

Fake hyperlinks: These messages contain links that redirect the user to fraudulent websites perfectly imitating those of well-known brands or institutions. Once on these pages, victims are prompted to enter sensitive information.

Emergency or threat messages: Fraudsters often play on fear and urgency. For example, a message may tell you that your bank account will be blocked if you don’t immediately click on a link to confirm your information. By creating a sense of panic, they push the user to act without taking the time to think.

Offers “too good to be true”: Some SMS promise rewards or winnings that seem very generous and especially that often come out of nowhere. This type of approach entices users by playing on their desire to take advantage of a good deal.

Here are some examples of fraudulent SMS:

• The fake bank message: “Warning! Your bank account is suspended. Click here to reactivate immediately: [link].”
• The fake parcel delivery: “Your package is pending additional payment. Pay now via this link: [link].”
• The fake prize: “Congratulations, you have won an iPhone! Click here to claim your prize: [link].”
• The phishing attempt: “Update of your information required for your PayPal account. Log in here to avoid any blockage: [link].”

Recognizing a fraudulent SMS

The sender’s number

If the number looks strange or comes from an unknown contact, be wary. Fraudsters can also spoof the identity of a known sender by changing one or two digits in the phone number.

Suspicious links

A shortened link (like bit.ly or tinyurl) is often used by scammers to conceal their actual address. If a link seems suspicious to you, avoid clicking on it and instead verify its authenticity by directly contacting the claimed service.

The urgent tone

A message urging you to act immediately, especially by mentioning serious consequences (account blocking, fine, etc.), is often a sign of fraud.

Language errors

Many fraudulent SMS contain grammar mistakes, spelling errors, or strange formulations. These errors are very good indicators.

Requests for personal data

No legitimate service will ever ask you to provide confidential information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or PINs via SMS.

How to prevent your messages from being perceived as fraudulent SMS

Marketing experts using SMS as a communication tool must be very careful to ensure their campaigns are not mistaken for fraud attempts. If you are one of these professionals, here are some best practices to adopt:

• Use an identified and easily recognizable sender name, such as your company or an official entity, and not just a phone number.
• Write clear, error-free messages. Recipients will trust the legitimacy of your SMS more if it is correctly written.
• Never request confidential information via SMS. If it’s really necessary, redirect users to a secure page on your official website.
• Personalize your SMS with the recipient’s name and specific information showing that you already have an established relationship with them.
• Work with certified SMS service providers that ensure good deliverability and comply with security standards. These platforms will also allow you to track the performance of your messages and verify the authenticity of the numbers used.
• Never forget the STOP SMS mention, which provides recipients with an easy opt-out option if they wish.
• Respect the legal framework regarding the hours and days of sending professional SMS.

You will have understood, vigilance is the first barrier against fraudulent SMS. Vigilance on the part of consumers, of course, but also on the part of legitimate companies that communicate through this channel. For the latter, a tool like Captain Verify can be particularly wise since it allows, among other things, to verify and clean contact lists.

The 4 most common types of fraudulent SMS in 2026

1. Fake parcel delivery (FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL)

The most widespread: a text claiming a package is awaiting your payment of a few dollars. The link redirects to a site mimicking the carrier and steals your banking details. USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL never request payment by SMS for delivery.

2. Fake bank alert

“A suspicious connection was detected on your account. Confirm your identity here: [link]”. The link leads to a fake bank site. No legitimate bank asks you to confirm your identity via an SMS link. When in doubt, call your bank directly using the number on your card.

3. The “wangiri” one-ring scam

You get a missed call from a foreign premium-rate number (often +216 Tunisia, +252 Somalia, +355 Albania, +371 Latvia, +967 Yemen). If you call back, you pay several dollars per minute. Never return a call from an unknown international number without first checking which country it belongs to (see our list of country calling codes).

4. Fake government / IRS / tax alert

“Your tax return is incomplete, complete it here”. Government agencies and tax authorities never communicate via SMS with external links. For US taxes, only IRS.gov is official. For UK, gov.uk. Trust no SMS link claiming to be a government agency.

How to verify a suspicious SMS in 30 seconds

1. Don’t click the link. Hover over it without clicking (on desktop) or long-press (on mobile) to see the real URL. If the domain isn’t the official one (usps.com, irs.gov, your-bank.com…), it’s a fraud.
2. Check the sender. Legitimate organizations use their name (USPS, IRS, Bank XYZ), not a 10-digit number. If the sender is a regular mobile number, beware.
3. Identify the country of the prefix if the number starts with + or 00. A call or SMS from +216, +252, +355, +371, +967 with no known reason is suspicious.
4. Report the SMS. In the US, forward suspicious SMS to 7726 (SPAM). In the UK, forward to 7726 as well. France: 33700.

Managing a phone number database? How to avoid spreading fraudulent SMS

If you send SMS marketing campaigns from your business, your legal liability extends to the numbers you contact. Mass sending to invalid, recycled, or fraudulent numbers brings three major risks:

• Degraded deliverability: carriers detect sends to dead numbers and may flag your SMS route as suspicious.
• Wasted spend: every SMS sent to an invalid number is billed without return.
• Compliance risk: sending to recycled numbers (reassigned to new owners) constitutes unsolicited sending, sanctionable under TCPA in the US, GDPR in the EU.

The fix: verify each number in real time before sending using an HLR Lookup service. This technology queries carrier databases to confirm a number is active, reachable, and assigned to a valid carrier.

Frequently asked questions about fraudulent SMS

How do I recognize a fraudulent SMS?

5 signals: shortened or unusual link, fake urgency (“act within 24h”), typo or grammar error, sender being a regular mobile number instead of a name, request for passwords or banking details.

I clicked on a fraudulent SMS link, what now?

If you didn’t enter anything: disconnect from the internet, scan your device with antivirus, change passwords on sensitive accounts. If you entered banking details: call your bank immediately to freeze the card, file a complaint, report to the FTC (US) or your local cybercrime authority.

What is 7726?

7726 (which spells SPAM) is the official short code in the US, UK, Canada, and many other English-speaking countries to report fraudulent SMS. Forward the suspicious SMS to 7726 — your carrier handles the rest, cross-referencing reports to block fraudsters.

Where do fraudulent SMS come from?

Most are sent from abroad via cheap international SMS gateways, or from numbers acquired fraudulently (resold SIM cards, identity theft). Wangiri scams come from premium-rate numbers abroad designed specifically to bill the callback.

Is my number at risk if I replied STOP?

Replying STOP to a fraudulent SMS may confirm your number is active, making it more valuable to fraudsters (resold on the black market). For legitimate marketing SMS, STOP works. For suspicious SMS, don’t reply — report to 7726.