The simple answer

Treat an unexpected text with caution if it asks you to:

click a link
call a number
send money
confirm a payment
give a password
give card or bank details
share a security code
act urgently

A genuine-looking logo, sender name or phone number does not prove the message is real.

If you think the message might be genuine, do not use the link or phone number in the message.

Open the company’s official app, type its website address yourself, or use a phone number you already trust.

A typical scam text might look like this

Fictional example — created by Voxcor for illustration

PACKAGE DELIVERY

We were unable to deliver your parcel.

A small redelivery fee is required.

Complete payment within 12 hours to avoid return of your parcel.

Review delivery

Unexpected message
You weren’t expecting a delivery or already knew your parcel was on its way.
Creates urgency
“Within 12 hours” pushes you to act before you’ve had time to check.
Requests a payment
A genuine courier rarely asks for a small fee by text link.
Tries to move you onto a link
The message wants a tap, not a call to a number you already trust.

7 warning signs to check

1. You weren’t expecting the message

Unexpected texts deserve extra caution — especially messages about:

a parcel you weren’t expecting
a payment you don’t recognise
an account problem
an unpaid toll or fine
a loan you never applied for
a prize or refund
a job you never applied for

The fact that the message knows your name, phone number or another personal detail does not automatically make it genuine.

2. It wants you to hurry

Scammers often try to stop you from thinking or checking. Watch for language such as:

Act now
Final warning
Account will be suspended
Payment required today
Your parcel will be returned
Immediate action required

Urgency is a reason to slow down, not speed up.

3. It wants you to click a link

Be cautious when an unexpected message asks you to open a link to:

fix an account
confirm a payment
track a parcel
pay a fee
claim a refund
verify your identity

If you think the company may genuinely need you, reach it independently instead.

4. It asks for private information

Be suspicious if the message or website it opens asks for things such as:

passwords
banking login details
card details
PINs
security codes
one-time verification codes

A request for sensitive information is a strong reason to stop and verify who you are dealing with.

5. It asks you to pay

Be especially careful with unexpected requests to:

pay a small delivery fee
settle a fine
move money to “protect” it
buy gift cards
transfer money
send cryptocurrency
pay to receive a prize or job

Never move money simply because an unexpected text tells you to.

6. Something about the sender or link looks wrong

Look carefully for:

strange web addresses
misspelled company names
extra words in a web address
unusual phone numbers
a sender address that does not match the organisation

But a professional-looking sender name or familiar-looking number is not proof that a message is genuine. Scammers can make messages appear convincing.

7. It doesn’t look or sound like their normal messages

You may notice:

unusual wording
strange formatting
unexpected requests
a different way of addressing you
a request the company has never made before

Perfect spelling and professional design do not prove a message is genuine. Modern scams can look extremely convincing.

Does one warning sign mean it is definitely a scam?

Not always.

A genuine company might send an unexpected message.

A real delivery service might send you a tracking link.

A bank might contact you about unusual activity.

The safest question is not:

“Does this look real?”

It is:

“Can I verify this without using anything in the message?”

What should I do if I’m unsure?

Don’t click the link.
Don’t reply yet.
Open the organisation’s official app or website yourself.
Check there for the same alert, order, payment or account problem.

If necessary, call the organisation using a number you already trust — such as the number on your bank card, statement or official website.

Never use the phone number supplied by the suspicious message simply to check whether the message is genuine.

Should I reply “STOP” or “NO”?

If an unexpected message looks like a scam, do not reply simply to find out what happens.

A scammer may use replies to continue the conversation.

Use your phone’s spam/report-junk feature where available, then delete the message.

“STOP” can be appropriate for legitimate marketing messages you knowingly subscribed to. This section is about suspicious or unexpected messages that may be scams.

What if the text says it is from my bank?

Do not use the link or telephone number in the message to investigate it.

Instead:

open your bank’s official app
type the bank’s website yourself
use the number printed on your bank card

If there really is a problem, the bank can confirm it through a trusted channel.

You do not need to prove the text is fake before contacting your bank safely.

What if the sender name looks genuine?

Do not rely on the sender name alone.

A message appearing under a familiar company name or showing a plausible phone number can still be fraudulent.

Judge the request itself and verify it independently.

What should I do with a scam text?

Once you are satisfied the message is suspicious:

do not click its links
do not call its number
do not reply
use your phone’s Report Junk / Report Spam option where available
delete the message

Already clicked a link in a scam text? I clicked a scam link on my phone. What should I do?

The one thing to remember

Unexpected message?

Don’t let the message decide how you contact the company.

Don’t use its link. Don’t use its phone number.

Open the official app or website yourself and check there.

Sources checked

This answer was checked against current guidance from official sources.

Last checked: September 2026

Voxcor Answers

AI helps me research.
I check the answer.
You get the simple version.