Written for people who feel unsure, worried, or rushed by unexpected text messages.
If a text message suddenly appears on your phone saying something urgent, it can make your stomach drop.
“Your parcel is waiting.”
“Your bank account has been locked.”
“You must pay this charge today.”
It might look official. It might mention a company you know. It might even arrive in the same message thread as genuine texts.
Before you tap anything, pause. You have more time than the message wants you to think.
First, Do Not Click the Link
This is the most important step.
If a text message feels suspicious, do not:
Tap the link
Reply to the message
Call any number in the message
Enter your password
Put in card or bank details
Download an app it tells you to install
A genuine company will not mind you checking safely. A scammer wants you to act quickly, while you are worried.
Why Suspicious Texts Feel So Convincing
Scam texts are designed to copy the things we already recognise.
They often pretend to be from:
A bank
Royal Mail, Evri, DPD, or another delivery company
HMRC or another government department
Amazon, PayPal, Apple, Microsoft, or Facebook
A mobile phone company
A family member using a new number
The message may use words like:
Urgent
Final notice
Account locked
Payment failed
Verify now
That wording is not there by accident. It is there to rush you.
A Simple Rule That Helps
If the message is pushing you to click, pay, log in, or reply quickly, treat it as suspicious.
You do not need to decide straight away whether it is real or fake. You only need to avoid using the link in the message.
The Safe Way to Check
If the text says there is a problem with an account, parcel, payment, or delivery, check it another way.
Close the message.
Open the real app yourself, such as your banking app or delivery app.
Or type the company’s website into your browser yourself.
Log in as you normally would.
Look for the message, order, payment, or alert there.
If there is a real problem, it will usually show inside the official app or on the official website.
No text-message link required.
If It Claims to Be From Your Bank
Be extra careful with anything about money.
If a text says your bank account has been blocked, a payment was attempted, or you need to move money, do not use the phone number in the message.
Instead:
Open your banking app yourself
Use the number on the back of your bank card
Or call 159, which connects many UK bank customers to their bank safely
Never move money to a “safe account”. Real banks do not ask you to do that.
How to Report a Suspicious Text in the UK
You can report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding them to 7726.
7726 spells “SPAM” on a phone keypad. It is used by UK mobile networks to help investigate and block scam texts.
Usually, you can:
Press and hold the suspicious message.
Choose forward.
Send it to 7726.
If asked, send the number the message came from.
You can also read the official advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, Ofcom’s 7726 reporting guidance, and GOV.UK’s phishing reporting page.
Should You Block the Number?
Yes, once you have reported it, blocking the number is sensible.
Just remember that scammers often use different numbers, so blocking one number does not stop every scam text. It simply helps reduce repeat messages from that sender.
What If You Already Clicked the Link?
First: do not panic. Clicking a link does not automatically mean everything has gone wrong.
What matters is what happened next.
If you clicked but did not enter anything
Close the page. Do not continue. You are probably fine.
If you entered a password
Change that password straight away using the real website or app. If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there too.
If you entered bank or card details
Contact your bank immediately using your banking app, the number on your card, or 159.
If you sent money
Contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
What If the Text Says It Is From a Family Member?
One common scam says something like:
“Hi Mum, I’ve smashed my phone. This is my new number.”
Then, after a few friendly messages, they ask for money.
If this happens, contact the real person another way first. Call their old number. Message them on WhatsApp. Ask another family member. You can also ask a question only the real person would know.
Do not send money just because the message feels emotional or urgent.
A Good Way to Remember It
When a worrying text arrives, think:
Stop - do not tap the link
Check - use the real app, website, or phone number
Report - forward suspicious texts to 7726
Ask - get a second opinion if you are unsure
You are not being silly for feeling unsure. These messages are written to confuse people.
If You’re Unsure, Get a Second Pair of Eyes
This is exactly the sort of thing people in places like Newmarket bring to Confident With Tech sessions.
I can:
Look at the message with you
Explain whether it looks real or fake
Show you how to report it
Help you check your account safely
Talk through what to do if you already clicked
No judgement. No panic. Just calm, practical help.
If you live in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire or Suffolk and would like ongoing help and peace of mind with scam messages, phones, tablets, online safety and everyday tech confidence, take a look at the Confident With Tech Membership. If you only need one-off help with a specific problem, you can book a friendly one-to-one visit.
Tech Made Simple Quiz
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