Safe to Tap

Scam alerts

Scams going around right now in the US, what they look like, and what to do. Based on public warnings from the FTC, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and others.

• Unpaid toll texts: a common scamA text says you owe a small toll and must pay today through a link.
• Package delivery texts: "your package is on hold"A text says a delivery failed or needs a small fee before it can be redelivered.
• Fake bank fraud alerts and Zelle scamsA text or call says there's suspicious activity on your account and asks you to act now.
• "Wrong number" texts that turn into investment scamsA friendly message meant for someone else turns into a friendship, then an investment tip.

The rules that catch almost every scam

• Don't tap links in messages you weren't expecting. Go to the company's app or website yourself.
• Pressure to act right now is a warning sign in itself.
• No real company or agency asks for codes, passwords, gift cards, crypto or wire transfers by text.
• Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.