SMS, Message, and Direct Message Scam — An SMS, message, or direct message scam is a fraudulent communication sent through text messaging, social media, dating platforms, or private messaging applications to obtain money, information, account access, or control over a device. The criminal may impersonate a bank, government agency, delivery service, employer, family member, friend, celebrity, or customer-service representative while using urgency, fear, affection, curiosity, or an apparent wrong-number message to begin the interaction. These scams frequently direct the recipient to click a deceptive link, scan a QR code, provide a security code, download an application, send money, purchase cryptocurrency, complete paid online tasks, or move the conversation to an encrypted platform. A recipient protects against the scheme by refusing the requested action, preserving the communication, and independently contacting the claimed person or organization through an established channel, because a familiar profile, photograph, telephone number, or existing account does not prove the sender’s identity. — Digital Communication Fraud

Added September 29, 2026