Text Scams: Why Your Phone Is Being Targeted and How to Stay Safe

That little buzz from your phone — the one you used to ignore — is now a warning sign. More than ever, people are getting scammed through text messages. In 2023 alone, fraudsters took nearly $6 million from victims — almost double the amount lost the year before. That’s not just a number; it’s a sign that SMS scams are growing in both volume and impact. These messages don’t just pop up randomly. They’re carefully crafted to look like they come from banks, government agencies, or delivery services. The real danger? Your phone is one of the most trusted devices you have, and scammers are using that trust to trick you into doing something risky — like clicking a link or sharing personal details.

The truth is, text messages don’t get filtered the same way email does. Spam filters catch a lot of email spam because of volume, patterns, and known behavior. SMS? That’s a different story. There’s no built-in filtering, and smartphones often don’t have the same security layers as computers. Scammers exploit that gap. They send urgent messages — “Your account will be closed!” or “You owe taxes!” — and pressure you to act fast before you even have time to think. That urgency is key. It’s designed to override your instinct to question the message.

Common Types of Text Scams You Might See

• Premium Rate Text Fraud: Messages pretend to be from a service you’ve signed up for, but when you reply, your phone bill gets charged a steep fee. The scam doesn’t even need you to click a link — just to respond.
• Tax Demand Scams: Scammers impersonate tax authorities and say you owe money. They include a link that leads to a fake site where you’re asked to pay. It’s not real — and you won’t get a tax notice from a real agency.
• Fake Contact Tracing Alerts: These messages claim to be from health departments and say you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID or another illness. They ask for your phone number, location, or other personal info — all of which is a red flag.
• Malware Distribution (Flubot): A new threat called Flubot spreads through SMS, especially on Android devices. It steals your login details, especially from banking apps, and can let hackers access your accounts.

Report any suspicious text to your mobile carrier or ScamWatch (https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/). Never click links or reply to messages from unknown senders — even if they look official. And if you get one that seems off, call the organization directly using their official website or phone number. A quick second of hesitation can stop a scam before it starts.

Your phone isn’t just a tool — it’s your gateway to everything. And right now, scammers are using that to get in. Stay sharp, stay cautious, and don’t trust a message just because it sounds familiar.