All incidents
I received a suspicious SMS
You received a text message that claims to be from your bank, a delivery company, SARS, or another organisation, and something about it feels off. These messages are usually trying to get you to click a link, call a number, or reply with information.
Do this now
- Don't click any link in the message.
- Don't reply, and don't call any number given in the message.
- Use our 'Is This Suspicious?' checker to see which warning signs it contains.
Then do this
- If you want to verify the claim, contact the organisation directly using a number or website you already know or trust — never the one in the message.
- Delete the message once you're confident it's not genuine.
Check these things
- Does it pressure you to act immediately?
- Does it ask for a password, PIN, or one-time code?
- Does the link go to an unfamiliar or misspelled domain?
Don't do this
- Don't call the number in the message to 'confirm' it.
- Don't forward the message to family without a warning that it may be a scam.
When should I get help?
- Contact your bank directly if the message claims to be from them and mentions your account.
- Report it to your mobile provider if you're receiving repeated scam messages.