Don’t Click: What to Do When a Text Link Seems Suspicious

Best practices for handling malicious links without compromising your phone

Text messages are now a familiar part of our daily routine, delivering everything from family updates and doctor’s appointments to one-time security codes and banking alerts. But with this convenience has come a dark side: a surge of suspicious links sent via SMS. These “smishing” attacks (the text-message cousin to email “phishing”) can threaten your privacy, identity, finances, and even safety.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to recognize and act on suspicious links, why these scams are growing, and best practices to stay protected.

Why suspicious text links are on the rise

Text message scams—often called “smishing” (SMS + phishing)—are exploding in both frequency and complexity. It’s not just you noticing it. Financial institutions, mobile carriers, and cybersecurity watchdogs are reporting a sharp uptick in these scams over the last couple of years.

And they’ve evolved. The days of laughably obvious scams with broken grammar and shady URLs are mostly behind us. Scammers are now mimicking official sources with alarming accuracy—bank alerts, delivery updates, two-factor authentication codes, even fake login pages that mirror real ones. Some even spoof real phone numbers so the message appears to come from a trusted sender.

Their goal is simple: get you to click that link. Once you do, they might try to harvest your passwords, install malware, steal personal data, or even take over your accounts.

Why do scammers send suspicious links by text?

• High open and click rates: People are more likely to open texts than emails.
• Trust in SMS: Many institutions send legitimate alerts this way, so it can be easier to “blend in.”
• Mobile weaknesses: Phones may lack the security layers of desktop computers.

How to recognize a suspicious link in a text

The first and best defense? Know what to look for. Most suspicious texts share common warning signs.

Unknown or unexpected senders

If the number isn’t in your contacts—or worse, if it’s a random-looking or foreign number, proceed cautiously. Many scam texts use “spoofed” numbers to appear local or official.

Spelling or grammar errors

While the quality is improving, many scams still contain awkward English. If the message feels oddly worded, overly formal, or littered with typos and strange punctuation, trust your gut. Real companies tend to have professional copy and consistent branding.

A sense of urgency or fear

A classic move: “Your account has been locked,” “Immediate action required,” or “Final notice before legal action.” These are designed to make you panic and click before thinking.

Request for personal/financial data

Legitimate organizations (banks, healthcare providers, government agencies) will never ask for account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers via text.

Suspicious or shortened URLs

Scam messages often use:

• URL shorteners (like bit.ly or tinyurl) to hide the real website
  
• Misspelled brand names (think “netflx-support.com” instead of netflix.com)
  
• Odd-looking domains that seem close but not quite right

When in doubt, don’t tap. Open your browser and type in the official website yourself.

Offers too good to be true

Congratulations, you’ve won a free iPhone! (Spoiler: you haven’t.)

If a message promises cash, gifts, or exclusive deals that seem way over the top, it’s likely bait. Scammers love dangling rewards to lure people into clicking.

Example scams:

• Alerts pretending to be from your bank: “Your account is locked.”
• Click here to unlock it now: [link]”
• Delivery scams: “FedEx package pending. Reschedule here: [link]”
• COVID/test kits, government payments, gift cards

Tip: Scammers may copy real alerts or pose as someone you know.

Still unsure? Just don’t engage. It’s better to be overly cautious than get caught in a scam.

Immediate actions to take when you receive a suspicious link

If a message seems suspicious, here are some immediate actions you can take to mitigate further damage.

1. Do not click the link

Even one tap can do damage. Some links lead to fake login pages designed to steal your info, while others can quietly trigger malware downloads or install shady apps in the background. Treat it like a biohazard: don’t touch it.

2. Do not reply to the sender

Responding—especially with “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE”—can confirm your number is active and lead to more spam.

3. Do not share the message

Avoid the temptation to warn friends or coworkers by forwarding the message—it just spreads the risk. If you want to report it (which is a good idea), use official channels like your mobile carrier’s spam reporting number.

4. Do not open attachments

Some scam texts come with attachments instead of links. These can install malware, give remote access to your device, or hijack your system before you even realize what’s happening. Unless it’s from a known, trusted contact, leave it alone.

5. Trust your instincts

If something feels off, it probably is. When in doubt, delete or leave the message alone.

How to verify if the text or link is legitimate

Sometimes you’ll get a text that genuinely could be from your bank, doctor, or major service. Here’s how to check without exposing yourself to risk:

Contact the organization using official channels

Look up the official website or phone number separately (not the one in the text) and ask if they sent the message.

Check for scam alerts

Major banks, phone carriers, and government agencies maintain scam alert pages.

Google the message content or number

If the message or number is a known scam, someone else has probably posted about it online.

Use phone lookup services (like ReversePhone.com)

Run the number through a reliable service like ReversePhone.com to try and quickly learn if the number has been flagged for fraud or is associated with a legitimate business.

Preview the link (with caution)

Some secure tools let you view where a link really leads; but remember, simply previewing a link can carry risk on certain devices.

Best practices for protecting your phone and information

The basics of digital security can make a huge difference over the long term:

Keep your device and apps updated

Install OS and app updates as critical security patches are released constantly.

Use security software

Modern security solutions can catch malicious activity and block unwanted texts. Many carriers also offer spam call and text filters.

Enable spam filters and blocking

Both iOS and Android let you block unknown senders and report spam directly from your phone’s messaging app.

Set up two-factor authentication (2FA)

Critical financial and personal accounts should use 2FA, making it harder for criminals to use stolen credentials.

Never share personal data over text

Legitimate organizations will never request your personal details, passwords, or account numbers through text messages.

Periodically change your passwords

Use different, strong passwords for financial, email, and social media accounts.

Limit app permissions

Don’t give texting or calling apps unnecessary permissions, especially from unknown developers.

What to do if you unintentionally open a suspicious link

Mistakes happen, even to seasoned professionals. If you think you’ve clicked a harmful link, take action immediately:

1. Close any open apps or browser windows

Do not provide details or approve any downloads.

2. Clear your browser data

Wipe your browser’s history and cache to remove any tracking or session data.

3. Run a security scan

Use trusted antivirus or antimalware apps to scan your device for threats.

4. Change passwords

From a separate device, update your passwords for any accounts that may have been accessible from your device, especially email, banking, and payment services.

5. Monitor accounts for suspicious activity

Activate alerts for banking and financial accounts. Watch for unusual transactions, notifications, or password reset requests.

6. Alert your carrier or IT department

If you think your phone or accounts have been compromised, your carrier or a tech professional can walk you through the next steps, sometimes including a full reset.

7. Consider a factory reset (as a last resort)

If you suspect malware and nothing else works, a factory reset can remove unwanted apps or code. Back up your important data first.

How to report suspicious texts

Reporting smishing helps carriers and authorities shut down scams sooner. Here’s how you can report:

Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM)

Most US carriers let you report spam texts by forwarding to 7726.

Report to national agencies

In the US, report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Other countries have similar agencies and reporting tools.

Notify the impersonated organization

Banks, delivery services, and other businesses want to know when they’re being spoofed.

Block and delete the number

Prevent repeat messages by blocking the sender after reporting.

Long-term digital hygiene tips

Staying safe from text scams isn’t a one-time act, but an ongoing practice:

Regularly review app permissions

Limit access to contacts, messages, and location for apps that don’t need them.

Educate family and co-workers

Children and older adults are especially vulnerable—guide them on spotting suspicious communications.

Stay informed

Follow news from cybersecurity sites, banks, and your mobile carrier for alerts about new scams.

Clean up old apps and accounts

Remove apps that you no longer use, and close dormant accounts that could be hijacked.

Use community resources to check unknown numbers

Leverage platforms where users share real-time data and complaints about scammers.

The role of reverse phone lookup in fighting phone-based scams

In the battle against smishing, spam calls, and unknown numbers, information can be your strongest armor.

ReversePhone can help you do this by letting you:

• Instantly search landlines, mobile numbers, and even unlisted or unpublished lines.
• Access reports including caller location and user-reported complaints.
• See comments from our community about any number, for real-life insight into scams and spam attempts.
• Get peace of mind before answering unknown calls or responding to suspicious texts.

Whether you’re trying to identify a scammer, check whether a business is legitimate, or understand a pattern of unwanted calls, just look it up in the search bar on ReversePhone. Yes, it’s really that easy!

Visit ReversePhone.com now to try a lookup and join a growing community committed to safer, smarter phone use!