Guides / Common scams
Fake texts and emails: how to spot them
The "your account is locked" message, and its many cousins.
Phishing messages pretend to come from a bank, a delivery company, a store or a government agency. Their goal is to get you to tap a link, log in on a fake page, or pay a small "fee".
Red flags
- A problem you didn't know about: a locked account, a missed delivery, an unpaid toll
- A deadline: "within 1 hour", "today only"
- A link to a web address that isn't the company's real site
- A request to "verify" a password, card number or code
- Small fees, like $1.99 to "release" a package
What to do instead
- Don't tap the link or reply, not even "STOP"
- Open the company's app, or type its website yourself
- Or call the number on your card, statement or the official website
- Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), then delete them
- Report phishing emails to the real company and to ReportFraud.ftc.gov
General educational information, not legal advice. Dime Wisdom isn't paid by any bank, security company or government agency.