Scam guides

Scam guide · Updated October 1, 2026

Plain-English guides to the scam texts, emails and calls going around right now: what they look like, how to tell, and what to do.

• The “you missed jury duty” scam
  A call or text says you missed jury duty and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. The FBI warned about it in September 2026. Here's how to tell it's fake and what to do.
• How to report a scam text
  Where to send a scam text — 7726, the FTC, the FCC, the FBI and the company it pretends to be — and what to do first if you already clicked or paid.
• The USPS “package on hold” text scam
  Got a text saying USPS can't deliver your package or you owe a redelivery fee? Here's how the scam works, the signs it's fake, and exactly what to do.
• The unpaid toll text scam
  A text says you owe an unpaid toll and a late fee is coming. The FBI has warned about this scam. Here's how to spot it and what to do.
• The “Hi Mom, new number” scam
  A text from an unknown number says it's your child with a new phone, then asks for money. Here's how the family emergency scam works and how to check.

Comparing scam-checker apps

Several free and paid tools will read a suspicious message and tell you what they think. These pages compare them honestly, including where other apps are the better fit.

• Best apps to check if a text is a scam (2026)
  Norton Genie, Bitdefender Scamio, Malwarebytes Scam Guard, Trend Micro ScamCheck, Shieldr and the free 7726 option, side by side.
• Shieldr vs Norton Genie
  What each checks, where it works, what it costs, and which one fits you.