Phone and Text Message Scams: The Most Common Types and How to Protect Yourself
Put Mobailes Editorial Staff
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A message saying your order is stuck, a call informing you that you've won a prize, a contact urgently requesting money. The phone and text message scams They change their clothes all the time, but almost always follow the same script: create a sense of urgency, gain your trust, and ask for information or money.
In this guide you will learn about the most common scams, recognize the warning signs, and find out what to do if you or someone in your family falls victim to one of them.
Why do phone scams work so well?
Scammers rely on two factors: haste and emotion. When the message mentions an urgent problem, a family member needing help, or an expiring prize, people act before thinking. Furthermore, many scams use real information, such as your name or the bank where you have an account, obtained from data breaches. This makes the approach seem legitimate.
The best defense is to know the patterns. Once you recognize the pattern, it becomes much easier to be suspicious.
1. Order fee scam
How it works: You receive an SMS or text message saying that your order is being held and that you need to pay a small redelivery or customs fee. The message includes a link to a page that mimics the website of a delivery company, where you enter your card details or pay a code.
Warning signs:
- You're not expecting any deliveries or you don't remember buying anything from abroad.
- The link has a strange address, either shortened or different from the official website.
- The message gives a short deadline, such as "pay today or the package will be returned".
How to protect yourself: Do not click the link. If you have a purchase on its way, check the tracking by typing the official website address yourself or opening the app of the store where you made the purchase.
2. Fake prize scam
How it works: You receive a call or message informing you that you've won a prize, a car, or a cash prize. However, to claim the prize, you need to pay a fee, provide bank details, or share a code received via SMS.
Warning signs:
- You did not sign up for any promotion.
- They ask for advance payment to "release" the prize.
- They ask you to keep it a secret or decide on the spot.
How to protect yourself: Legitimate promotions don't charge for prize delivery. Hang up and, if you want to confirm, contact the company through the official channels you can find yourself.
3. The "I changed my number, send me a Pix" scam“
How it works: Someone sends a message from a new number, with a photo of a son, nephew, or friend, saying they've changed their phone number. After a short conversation, comes the request: pay an urgent bill or make a transfer, with the promise to return it the next day.
Warning signs:
- The person avoids answering phone calls or video calls.
- The writing style is different from usual.
- The account for the payment is in someone else's name.
How to protect yourself: Before making any transfers, call the person's old number or speak to someone close to them. Another tip is to ask a question that only they would know the answer to.
4. Fake bank call center scam
How it works: You receive a call from someone posing as an employee of your bank, informing you about a suspicious purchase on your card. To "cancel" the purchase, the person asks for your password, the code received via SMS, that you install a remote access app, or that you transfer the money to a "secure account.".
Warning signs:
- They ask for a password, verification code, or complete card details.
- They ask you to install some app during the call.
- They talk about a "secure account" or "protection account" for where to take your money.
How to protect yourself: The bank does not ask for passwords or transfer information over the phone. Hang up and contact them yourself through the official app or the number printed on the back of your card. If possible, call from a different device, as in some cases the line may still be connected to the previous call.
How to protect parents and grandparents
Older people usually answer any call and trust those who speak politely. Some simple actions can help:
- Discuss the most common scams, using real-life examples, without causing alarm.
- Combine a family "keyword" to confirm money requests.
- Activate the spam filter and the option to mute unknown numbers on their cell phones.
- Make it clear that they may call you before making any payment requested over the phone.
I fell for a scam. What now?
If you've shared data or made any payments, acting quickly increases your chances of minimizing losses.
- Speak to your bank immediately. Through official channels, explain what happened and request that the card or account be blocked, if applicable. In Brazil, Pix transfers can be disputed through the Special Return Mechanism (MED), which must be requested from your bank.
- Change your passwords., starting with the bank, email, and messaging apps.
- Enable two-step verification. on WhatsApp and your main accounts.
- File a police report. In many places this can be done online, at the virtual police station.
- Let your contacts know. If your messaging account was used by the scammer, please warn others not to make any transfers.
- Keep the evidence: Screenshots of the conversations, the number that called, receipts, and times.
Outside of Brazil, the steps are similar: contact your bank, the police, and the consumer protection agency in your country.
See too:
- How to block spam calls on Android and iPhone
- How to block spam and scam calls on your cell phone.
- Apps to free up phone memory
- How to make your cell phone faster
Conclusion: distrust is the best protection.
Haste, secrecy, and requests for money or codes are three recurring signs in almost all scams. If you notice any of these, stop, hang up, and verify the story through a channel you've chosen. Share these tips with loved ones: often, a family conversation can prevent significant losses.
To receive fewer suspicious calls, also see the step-by-step guide. How to block spam calls and unknown numbers on Android and iPhone..
