$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
text then email follow-up scam
A smishing text alerts the victim to a problem, followed by a detailed phishing email with a malicious link or attachment, using the text to prime the victim to expect the email.
“phishing scam”
↑ 700%Key indicators
Usually targetsAll consumers
Often hitsOnline shoppers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send a brief text message alerting the victim to a delivery, payment, or security issue.
2
Shortly after, a phishing email arrives with the same subject, containing a malicious link or attachment for more details.
3
Because the victim was primed by the text, they are more likely to trust and act on the email.
What to do first
Be suspicious when a text message and email arrive about the same topic from unknown sources.
Related terms
SMS plus email attacktext-primed phishingsmishing-to-email scamMulti-channel phishing scamsSMSSurgingAll consumersOnline usersOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaSMS plus email attacktext-primed phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Steven, 35, a all consumers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate multi-channel phishing scams situation while using SMS. Scammers send a brief text message alerting the victim to a delivery, payment, or security issue.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Shortly after, a phishing email arrives with the same subject, containing a malicious link or attachment for more details.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Because the victim was primed by the text, they are more likely to trust and act on the email.
The outcome
Steven realized something was wrong when a text message warns about an issue and says a detailed email is coming. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Be suspicious when a text message and email arrive about the same topic from unknown sources. Steven's experience shows why a text message warns about an issue and says a detailed email is coming and both the text and email create urgency about the same topic — package delivery, bank alert, account breach are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A text message warns about an issue and says a detailed email is coming
- Both the text and email create urgency about the same topic — package delivery, bank alert, account breach
- The email arrives exactly when the text said it would, mimicking corporate communication patterns
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Be suspicious when a text message and email arrive about the same topic from unknown sources.
- ✓Go directly to the service's official website or app rather than clicking links in either message.
- ✓Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report phishing emails to [email protected].
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The Anti-Phishing Working Group has documented the rise of multi-channel phishing campaigns that use text messages to prime victims for email-based attacks.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Be suspicious when a text message and email arrive about the same topic from unknown sources.
- ✓Go directly to the service's official website or app rather than clicking links in either message.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The Anti-Phishing Working Group has documented the rise of multi-channel phishing campaigns that use text messages to prime victims for email-based attacks.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
All consumers, Online users
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
SMS — Multi-channel phishing scams
Why this group is vulnerable
All consumers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The Anti-Phishing Working Group has documented the rise of multi-channel phishing campaigns that use text messages to prime victims for email-based attacks.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about text then email follow-up scam
How does the text then email follow-up scam work?+
Scammers send a brief text message alerting the victim to a delivery, payment, or security issue. Shortly after, a phishing email arrives with the same subject, containing a malicious link or attachment for more details. Because the victim was primed by the text, they are more likely to trust and act on the email.
What are the warning signs of text then email follow-up scam?+
A text message warns about an issue and says a detailed email is coming Both the text and email create urgency about the same topic — package delivery, bank alert, account breach The email arrives exactly when the text said it would, mimicking corporate communication patterns
What should I do if I encounter text then email follow-up scam?+
Be suspicious when a text message and email arrive about the same topic from unknown sources. Go directly to the service's official website or app rather than clicking links in either message. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report phishing emails to [email protected].
Who is most at risk for text then email follow-up scam?+
This scam primarily targets All consumers, Online users. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on SMS.
Is text then email follow-up scam getting worse?+
text then email follow-up scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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