SCAM LIBRARY · PHISHING & LINKS

The bank/delivery phishing text

Scammers send texts that look like they're from your bank or a delivery company, asking you to click a link or confirm your details, but they're trying to steal your information.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You receive a text message claiming there's a problem with your account, a package delivery, or a payment that needs your attention right away. The message includes a link or a phone number and creates a sense of urgency—suggesting your account will be locked or your delivery cancelled if you don't act immediately. If you click the link or call the number, you're taken to a fake website or speak to someone posing as a bank or delivery employee who asks for passwords, card numbers, or personal details.

Red flags

• A text from your 'bank' or 'delivery company' with a link, especially one that creates urgency or mentions account suspension.
• The sender's phone number looks odd, unfamiliar, or slightly different from the real company's known number.
• You never placed an order, opened that account, or initiated the action the text mentions.

What to do

• Do not click any link or call any number in the text. Instead, open your banking app or go directly to the company's official website using a number or address you know is real.
• If you're unsure, contact the official customer service number on the back of your card or on the company's website—never use a number from the suspicious text.
• Report the phishing text to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.