To report a text message scam, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender, then file reports with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and with the FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center. If the text impersonated a specific agency, report it there too. If you already lost money or shared personal information, add a report to the FBI’s IC3.gov and call your bank the same day. Knowing how to report text message scams through each of these channels is what actually moves a message from your inbox into an enforcement file.
Capture the Evidence First
Before you delete anything or tap a reporting button, save what’s on your screen. Take a screenshot of the message: it preserves the sender’s number or email, the wording, and the timestamp in a single image. Tap the contact icon at the top of the thread to see the full sender info if it isn’t visible in the message itself. Note the date and time the text arrived, because carriers and investigators use timestamps to trace routing.
Do not tap links in the message, do not call any number listed inside it, and do not reply, not even with “STOP.” Any response confirms your number is active and brings more scam traffic.
Forward the Text to 7726
Forwarding to 7726 works across all major U.S. carriers and sends the message directly to your provider’s spam-analysis team. After you forward, the carrier will usually reply asking for the sender’s phone number. Send it back, and the carrier can investigate and potentially block that number across its entire network.
Use your messaging app’s built-in reporting at the same time. On iPhones, messages from unknown senders show a “Report Junk” link below the message; tapping it flags the sender to Apple and deletes the text. On Android, open the conversation, tap the three-dot menu, and choose the option to block and report spam. These feed the operating system’s spam filters, which improves detection for everyone on that platform.
File With the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission collects scam reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and uses them to build enforcement cases. Click “Report Now,” follow the prompts, and pick the category that fits a text message scam. Save the report number the system generates.
An individual report rarely triggers a standalone investigation. What it does is add to the pattern. When thousands of consumers report the same number or the same scam script, that volume is what the FTC uses to identify large operations worth pursuing.
When you describe the message, mention the tactic the scammer used: a locked bank account, an undeliverable package, a held tax refund, a prize you never entered, a job offer with unusually high pay, a request to “verify” account information. Categorizing the impersonation helps investigators link your report to the right campaign.
File an FCC Complaint
The Federal Communications Commission handles complaints under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law that prohibits sending automated text messages without prior consent. File through the FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center, select “Unwanted Calls/Texts” as the phone issue, and choose the sub-issue that matches.
The TCPA also gives you a private right of action. You can personally sue the sender for $500 per unauthorized message, and if a court finds the violation was willful, that figure can be tripled to $1,500 per message. Suits are typically filed in state court, and the federal statute of limitations is four years. Small claims filing fees vary by jurisdiction but are generally modest. For someone receiving dozens of texts from the same operation, the math adds up.
Report to the FBI if You Lost Money
Once a scam text has caused financial loss or identity theft, reporting shifts from regulators to law enforcement. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov is the central intake for cyber-enabled fraud. Fill out the online form with the details of the transaction, how the scammer contacted you, and anything you know about the sender. Complaints are analyzed and may be referred to federal, state, or local agencies.
Also file with your local police department if you sent money. That step isn’t just procedural. Banks, credit card companies, and payment platforms typically require a police report number before they’ll process a fraud claim or start a chargeback, and the local report creates the paper trail your bank’s investigation needs.
Report to the Agency Being Impersonated
Many scam texts pose as a specific government service. When they do, report to that agency directly in addition to the general channels.
Fake IRS or Treasury Texts
Forward any text claiming to be from the IRS or U.S. Treasury to phishing@irs.gov. Use “Text” as the subject line and include the sender’s phone number, the full message content, your phone number, and the date and time you received it. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by text message, so any such text is fraudulent by definition.
Fake USPS Delivery Texts
Texts pretending to be from the U.S. Postal Service, claiming a package couldn’t be delivered or asking you to confirm shipping details, go to spam@uspis.gov. Delete the message after forwarding. The United States Postal Inspection Service uses these reports to track the infrastructure behind the campaigns.
If You Already Clicked, Paid, or Shared Information
The reporting steps above still apply, but you now have a second job: limiting the damage.
Call Your Bank the Same Day
Federal law ties your liability to how quickly you report. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, if you report an unauthorized transfer within two business days of discovering it, your maximum liability is $50. Report after two days but within 60 days of your next bank statement, and the cap rises to $500. After 60 days, your liability for further unauthorized transfers is potentially unlimited. Call your bank’s fraud department as soon as you realize what happened, and follow up with the payment app you used, whether that was Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App.
Freeze Your Credit
If you shared your Social Security number, date of birth, or other identity information, place a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A freeze blocks anyone from opening new accounts in your name. It’s free to place and free to lift when you want to apply for credit yourself. Contact each bureau individually; they don’t share freeze requests with one another.
Use IdentityTheft.gov
IdentityTheft.gov, run by the FTC, generates a personalized recovery plan based on what was compromised. You answer questions about your situation and the site produces a step-by-step checklist along with pre-filled letters you can send to creditors and credit bureaus. If accounts have already been opened in your name, or if existing accounts show unauthorized charges, this is the most efficient way to organize the cleanup.