The warning from the FBI is clear and urgent: if you own a smartphone, whether it’s an iPhone or an Android, you must delete certain text messages immediately. This isn’t just about nuisance spam—it’s a widespread cyberattack targeting millions, designed to trick you into falling victim to costly scams.
Many of us rely on text alerts for everything from bills to traffic tickets. But right now, these messages can be weaponized against you. Criminals are exploiting trust in official-sounding texts, pushing fake notices about unpaid tolls, DMV fines, and soon, even messages masquerading as your bank or credit card company. What feels like a routine alert could cost you thousands of dollars if you’re not careful.
What is the scam targeting smartphone users?
Over the past several weeks, a surge of carefully crafted phishing texts has flooded phones across the United States. These messages falsely claim you owe money for tolls, traffic violations, or other fines, and often urge you to click a link to pay immediately. The FBI has warned that ignoring or not opening these messages keeps you safe, but once you interact or click, you open the door to identity theft and financial loss.
Interestingly, the campaign isn’t limited to just one type of phone. While many headlines have focused on Apple iPhone users—who make up over 150 million of the victims—Android owners are just as vulnerable. The attackers often prefer to send these messages through iMessage or new standards like RCS, encouraging replies that bypass built-in protections on both platforms.
The scale of the operation is staggering. Some cybercriminal groups can send as many as 60 million messages a month, and these numbers multiply as they exploit multiple domains and spoofed phone numbers from around the world. Organized gangs, apparently based in China, operate this “smishing” campaign like a high-volume factory, hitting nearly every phone user in America at some point.
How criminals disguise their operations and what to watch for
These texts are dangerously convincing. They mimic the style and branding of state agencies, banks, or well-known companies. Phishing websites linked to these texts often have domain names ending in odd extensions like .win or .cfd, chosen because they’re cheap and easy for attackers to register en masse.
Security experts tracking these scams have linked the operation to known Chinese cybercrime syndicates, who rely on scripts and massive infrastructure designed to churn out thousands of phishing websites and spoofed texts daily. The attackers also embed Chinese-language markers in the coding, revealing their origin.
Because of this breadth and automation, conventional network filters and spam detectors sometimes struggle to keep up. Google has rolled out new artificial intelligence tools to flag and block scam texts on Android phones, but the scam keeps evolving to dodge these defenses.
For example, a recent warning from Florida authorities highlighted how scammers continually refine their craft: their texts have become so polished that many victims don’t realize they’re being targeted until it’s too late. Similar warnings are now coming from Georgia, Virginia, and Iowa, each revealing new waves of DMV-themed smishing attacks.
Practical steps to protect yourself from dangerous texts
Based on FBI advice, the simplest and most effective defense is to delete these suspicious texts immediately—do not reply, do not click any links, and do not share personal information. Even if a message claims to be from the DMV or threatens arrest, remember that official agencies rarely use text messages for sensitive communications or payment requests.
My own experience mirrors this caution. Just last month, I received what looked like a legitimate traffic fine notification. The tone was urgent and the link real-looking, but my gut told me something was off. A quick search confirmed it was part of the latest smishing scam circulating nationwide. Deleting it without clicking protected my personal information and saved me from a potential headache.
Always verify suspicious texts by calling the official agency directly using contact information from their official website—never use phone numbers or links provided in the suspect message.
Beyond deletion, make sure your phone’s spam filters are enabled, and keep your operating system and apps updated to patch security vulnerabilities. Additionally, be wary of any messages that pressure you to act immediately. Scammers rely on creating panic to rush victims into mistakes, a tactic as old as fraud itself but just as effective.
If you’re unsure whether a text is legitimate, share it with friends or online communities before acting. The more we discuss and raise awareness, the harder it is for scammers to succeed.
Have you or someone you know received one of these scam texts? What steps did you take? Share your experience below and spread the word—protecting our phones is now as vital as locking our front doors. Your stories might help someone avoid a costly mistake.
I’ve had 2 or 3 notifications from YouTube recommending a video but the language was in Russian. I cleared my notifications. Also only watch podcasts I’ve subscribed to. I don’t know if I did the correct action. I guess I’ll find out. Thanks
I just got off of a Whatsapp scam supposedly from an Agent for FedEx telling me that I’ve won $5M and in order to receive the prize I’d have to pay just $150. I told the scammer I was already aware this was a scam and that I took screenshots of the entire thread to turn it over to the FBI ONLINE FRAUD DEPARTMENT which I did already with the first attempt by, supposedly, PCH and FedEx. That time they wanted $300. This one said they hoped I didn’t pay the $300 as they only needed $150. Seriously??? One surefire tip off is the very unprofessional language used…”Apparently, you Wanna die a poor man!” (WANNA)…SERIOUSLY? LOL
Joel, I set these guys up for a hobby lobby!
All you have to do is buy into their product and I’m sure there’s a couple on here right now listening to this talk and watching to see what gives them good ideas
Thank you so much for passing this valuable information on to us, so we can avoid such harmful attacks too our lifestyle. I am perplexed as to why they feel the need to cause such harm. Instead of creating a harmful environment. You would think there would put all there collective energy better spent on creating something that is interactive on how mankind can teach how we can better interact with each other. There has to be a way. Being harmful to each other is sad. Who what’s live life like this, I don’t!
It’s the love of money and making a fast buck. Why work when you can truck people into giving up their hard earned money. That’s how the criminal mind thinks. They’re not our there to make the world a better place. Is really just one simple deadly sin. Greed.
Greed and sheer Laziness
Money
My roommate has received several of the texts stating that she has multiple toll road fees that need to be paid. She’s not too tech savvy so I quickly deleted them as she has not been on a toll road in yrs! Updated her security features and strongly urged her to NEVER click on or open those texts!
I too have received those texts. I NEVER opened them. I knew someone was phishing because I had never traveled to that area. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe
Yeah I got a call from someone say that I was the winner of punisher clearing house and said I won 18 million dollars and a car and gave me a number to call to clam it it was from new york
I received 2 text messages saying I owed for unpaid toll in Houston TX . I didn’t open the text . I called the department of motor vehicle and asked them and they told me no . Than I told them I received this message in a text . And they than asked me to not open any type of text like this that it’s a scam . They said to delete these types of messages and not to n open them . I also got one acting as tube saying they owed me money for my tube channel. Well I don’t have a tube channel so I knew that was a scam . So I didn’t open it either. Also I get phone calls. I do reverse lookup and they look like a local number . But the reverse lookup flags them to China. If I don’t know the number or company or name I don’t answer them and I block them.
I had a phone call a quite a while back that said I had an unpaid toll charge and if I didn’t pay it NOW, the police were set to come and arrest me. I told them, I’m not paying so send the police to arrest me, and tell them to bring their guns as I have mine 😂 Funny but that was years ago and I’ve still had no police to arrest me! 😂🤣🤣
I’ve had text and email messages that said either “thank you for your purchase of such & such item for $???.?? ” Or ” your PayPal account has been charged $???.?? for such & such. I ALWAYS either check my bank account or go to my PayPal account directly and check for charges. There has been none. I NEVER click on they’re link or call their number, I always go to the company site directly!
Same here always go check your accounts … never open 9.5 % of time it’s not going to be showing in your account
I have dozens of those as well
Many years ago I was receiving in the mail those big official envelopes. Upon opening them was a letter and a huge check made out to me on some US bank. The letter said to help them out, deposit the check, send X amount to this specified person and I could keep the rest (a large amount) for my trouble and help. First I called the listed bank directly and was told no, there was no account, that wasn’t their check, it was probably a scam (duh). The I notified the FBI, FTC, and have had no contact with them. I still have the envelope, letter, check and everything in case the authorities someday want them!
I got a ck in the mail too. I went to 3 different banks to see if it was legit. All 3 banks said it doesn’t look
authentic. The last bank kept the ck since the scammer used the name of that bank. Red
Flags. I wish we could stick together & stop them!
I got a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I let it go to voice mail. It was a man claiming to be from the census office. This was early on a Saturday morning. Blocked the number.
I received a call claim to have an issue with SSI and put me on hold to talk to an officer. I didn’t respond then hang up Never again to strange
We all know about phishing texts and scam calls none of law enforcement entities ever never call to tell you you owe a fine or anything. If they reques5 bitcoin, gift card transfers etc …ITS A DAMN SCAM. BUT NOW FBI YOU CANT TRUST EITHER AS THEY ARE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS. DONT LISTEN TO ANYTHING THEY HAVE TO SAY.
So what do I do since I was the dummy that clicked on the link?
Block & Delete
Change all your passwords and notify your bank that you may have been compromised in a scam. They will help secure your accounts. So this ASAP
Exactly what B. Morgan said. Just to be proactive. & Definitely call banks where you have accounts & I’d request a card & change any info like pins or the like that would’ve been saved on your account. & I’d go a step farther & contact SS Admin (where you get your Social Security Card & #) & warn them you likely got hacked & want to be sure your Identity is secure. If this isn’t the right Dept to help you w\that, they can likely tell you who to contact so you can make sure your Identity isn’t stolen hopefully B4 they wrack up a ton of trouble in your name. & Be VERY wary going forth B4 you open a text that’s not a number you recognize. If there’s someone living with you or that you’re close to & trust who is more savvy about these things, I’d check w\them going fwd B4 opening any texts you’re unsure of. & Don’t feel bad. Many ppl have been tricked at 1 point or another. I’ve been mostly lucky bc training at work included a lot about scams & phishers & smishers etc. But back around 2012 when I was a lot younger & probably dumber, we had something happen that had me freaked out & scared. I didn’t realize it was a thing that actually happened & that ppl did to scam you. But we had a computer & we got on Facebook & the like w\it. Plus, other typical online interactions w\bills & banks & applications for various things. Anyway, it locked completely down 1 day & flashed a ⚠️🚨 WARNING🚨⚠️ saying the FBI (or some gov agency & police dept) had locked our computer due to suspicious activity, downloads, & photos. We were suspected of having child🌽 (if you know, you know) & that we need to pay $500 to unlock our computer or the police would be at our door to arrest us! & I wasn’t thinking clearly bc I was just so scared & confused like I KNOW nobody in my house was doing anything like that! So why would they think that? I was even thinking well we’d taken pics of our kids 1st baths or crazy moments to remember or share w\my family & hubby bc he was often deployed & we lived away from family so maybe it was that? This is getting too long. Sorry! But my point was I talked to my bro who was very savvy w\ tech & computers & he told me it was a scam & that they’d been happening more & more & it wasn’t real but a virus a Hacker put there. He helped me fix it & kinda chuckled that I’d been so freaked out bc I’d never heard of that. & Once I calmed down I realized how stupid it was too bc WHY would they let me pay $500 to unlock my dangerous computer & stay free if they REALLY find Child🌽 & other activity equally illegal & as bad. So, thankfully I never tried to pay them or call them. & I’ve been more wary since then of everything.
Wow, that was long. But I read it!
first, change all of your important passwords. use stronger passwords, don’t use the same password twice. and definitely don’t use things like your birthday as your password as those are the first ones cracked. then you need to get your data removed from the web and from the dark web. there are some services thatll do it automatically for you for a small fee, and they constantly scan for, and remove your data online. you can do it yourself but it’s not the easiest. they make it difficult on purpose to remove your data from the web. I don’t have any suggestions for what data remover to use, except to make sure that they’re qualified, reliable, and are considered trustworthy. some vpn services offer this service, but you’ll wanna research yourself. good luck!
If people are actually falling for this kind of stuff that is on them, i mean come on you wouldn’t just search anything you aren’t sure of then add scam to the end of the search. But seriously sceptical or anything through text or online.
Believe me, I’ve been scammed and had to change everything from bank to Social Security , etc. I’m so on about scams and “they are so many scams you wouldn’t believe it! They come from a phone call, email and messages. I would also like to say, “Don’t have such hard feelings until you walk in their shoes”!!!!!
I shemeka reed has been on the Internet. So I had deleted the app. But I have been sent irs paperwork in the mail. Stating I owe 16,000 dollar but I have no assets. At first the letter was coming from los Angeles California. Then I looked up the address and it was a vacant lot. After the wildfires hit California. Then I haven’t heard anything else. The next letter comes in from Kansas City from the irs stating I owe the same. I called SSI to check and SSI went through the phone,and let me know I don’t owe anything. But the scammers as SSI said. Don’t worry.
Thank GOD USA is old fashioned and doesnt text or call. They show up at your door or in your mailbox.
I have had several texts stating the Ok Turnpike Authority was going to cancel my Turnpike pass if I didn’t pay thru the text link immediately. I checked my balance online the first time and found it was quite healthy so I have since just deleted the rest. Anytime a company of any kind “sends you a text” automatically go to the website first. Take care of anything that may be a possibility thru the website or in person. NEVER click on a text or email notification. Closely look at any email address, you will notice errors easily. If you cannot find an error, Go to the Website, do not click on attachments or links. Smart is safe.
I have rec’d multiple text messages , sometimes several back to back using the same senders name a, claiming that my request for crypto coins has been approved and waiting for my reply. Just deleted text without opening.
I had one that had my banks logo on it and said urgent fraud alert. I honestly thought it was fraud my bank. They wanted to know if I had made a purchase at a CVS for 78 dollars and some. Told me to hit yes or no. So I hit no. Told me a agent would be calling me. They knew the first 4 numbers of my debit card and they knew the same security questions that my bank has asked me before. So I gave them the information they wanted. Thinking it was my bank. They last thing they asked me was if I had a cash app, venmo, or PayPal accounts. When I said no they instantly hung up the phone. I knew then it was a scam. I just started bawling. Called my bank. Canceled all my stuff and had to get new. They are getting really smart. Please everyone pay attention.
I was called that I won 12.8 million dollars 2 Mercedes Benz and a Rolex watch
They only wanted 200.00
Refused to pay anything
They continue to call and then they wanted to meet at my bank
They never showed up
Got a new number
I get them every 3 or 4 days. Tolls, fbi cybercrime protection, dmv, dept homeland security, won a giftcard, traffic cam ticket are the most common. The english is getting better. The grammer and punctuation part anyways
I grew up with PCs and Macs and don’t fall for any of this shit. You can tell by the way the emails are written. The phone number they use, so if they have a plus in front of the number it’s outside the United States. You can always find them by their IP if they don’t have a VPN.
I’ve received those Pay EZ Pass toll fees but I knew it was a scam because I haven’t driven in years and don’t have a car. I immediately deleted and blocked it. I don’t click onto nothing thru my phone, including Facebook too. Can’t fool me
For all we know, this could be a scam as well.