SMS and message safety
How to recognize a scam text message
Scam messages often succeed by creating a reason to act before you have time to verify the story. The sender may imitate a bank, delivery company, authority, employer, relative or marketplace buyer.
Notice the pressure
Urgency is one of the strongest warning signs. A message may claim that an account will close, a package will disappear, a payment is overdue or a relative needs help immediately.
- A deadline measured in minutes
- Threats of fees, arrest, account closure or lost access
- Requests to keep the conversation secret
Check the request, not the display name
A familiar sender name or logo can be copied. Do not use the phone number or link in the suspicious message to verify it. Open the organization's official app, type its known website yourself, or call a number from an official document.
- Payment to a new recipient
- BankID approval you did not initiate
- One-time code, password or card request
- Moving the conversation to another app
What to do
Do not reply, click or pay while uncertain. Save evidence if money or an account may be at risk, then block and report the sender through the relevant service. If you already acted, contact your bank and the affected organization through an official channel immediately.