SMS Scam Surge Growth

SMS scams have surged by more than 300 percent since 2020, driven largely by the rise in online activity and digital transactions. Initially fueled by pandemic-related fraud such as fake vaccine alerts and stimulus payment scams, attackers have evolved their tactics into a sophisticated ecosystem of SMS-based phishing and impersonation scams. This rapid growth highlights SMS as a highly attractive attack vector, with scammers exploiting the immediacy and personal nature of text messaging to deceive users effectively.

Why SMS Became a Scam Hotspot

Several factors explain why SMS has become the favored channel for scammers. First, cross-border transactions are now routine, and many scammers operate from countries with weak or unenforced regulations, placing them beyond the reach of legal consequences. Second, significant awareness gaps persist among users, many of whom do not recognize SMS threats or understand how to protect their personal information. Third, inconsistent education efforts by banks and platforms contribute to vulnerabilities, as safeguards like two-factor authentication (2FA) are still not universally adopted. Finally, smaller or fast-scaling messaging providers sometimes onboard new senders without proper vetting, unintentionally opening doors for malicious actors.

Responsibility Gaps in SMS Scam Prevention

Currently, not enough parties are held accountable for SMS scam prevention. Although U. S. regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) exist, enforcement remains inconsistent. Globally, regulatory standards vary widely, resulting in fragmented oversight. To combat this, stronger supervision of messaging platforms and aggregators is necessary, along with clear accountability for negligent onboarding practices. Furthermore, global industry alignment on risk management, compliance, and enforcement is critical to addressing the problem at scale.

Identifying Common SMS Scam Types

Recognizing common SMS scam types is essential to prevention. In the U. S., scammers impersonate well-known institutions and use urgency tactics to prompt clicks. Examples include bank phishing scams claiming unusual activity, fake USPS delivery notices demanding payments, fraudulent IRS refund offers, social security suspension threats, prize contest scams, mobile carrier account fraud alerts, fake job offers, and false toll fee notifications. Each scam carries telltale red flags, such as requests for personal information via SMS or suspicious links. For instance, reputable banks never request credentials via text, and the IRS does not initiate refund claims through SMS. Educating users to spot these red flags and encouraging them to report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) can reduce victimization.

Importance of Two Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) stands out as a straightforward and highly effective defense against unauthorized access resulting from SMS scams. Despite proven effectiveness, many services still do not enforce 2FA comprehensively. Businesses should implement 2FA across all login points and critical customer workflows while educating customers on enabling it. According to industry data, accounts with 2FA enabled experience 99.9 percent fewer breaches, underscoring its critical role in reducing scam success rates.

Strengthening Sender Verification Practices

Scammers frequently exploit weak sender verification to infiltrate messaging systems. To mitigate this risk, businesses must rigorously vet all messaging senders through background checks and partner only with providers compliant with CTIA guidelines and TCPA regulations. Additionally, leveraging Verified SMS or branded sender programs where available helps authenticate legitimate messages. Verified SMS adoption has been shown to reduce phishing attacks by up to 50 percent in pilot programs, emphasizing its value in securing messaging channels.

Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for Spam Detection

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) technologies provide scalable, real-time defenses against SMS spam and phishing. Salesforce integrates AI/ML into its messaging infrastructure to detect suspicious delivery patterns instantly, throttle or block spam campaigns proactively, and continuously update threat filters based on evolving attack techniques. These systems enable early identification and prevention of scam distribution, protecting both brands from reputational damage and users from phishing. Industry benchmarks indicate AI-driven spam filters can reduce unwanted messages by over 90 percent, dramatically improving user safety.

Prioritizing Consent and Regulatory Compliance

Consent management and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable for businesses sending SMS messages. Clear opt-in flows, maintenance of consent records, and honoring opt-out requests prevent legal penalties under laws like the TCPA. Non-compliance can lead to fines, brand damage, and carrier-level campaign blocking. Salesforce Marketing Cloud offers tools such as consent management, subscriber segmentation, and audit tracking to support compliance efforts. According to FCC enforcement data, TCPA-related fines have exceeded millions annually, demonstrating the financial risks of non-compliance.

Choosing Partners With Global Regulation Expertise

Cross-border SMS scams thrive in regions with weak regulation. Selecting messaging partners knowledgeable about regional laws such as GDPR in Europe, CASL in Canada, and TCPA in the U. S. is crucial. Providers should offer compliance documentation, pre-built guardrails, and insights on local messaging best practices including channel types like short codes, long codes, and alphanumeric sender IDs. Businesses working with globally compliant partners reduce exposure to legal risks and improve message deliverability in diverse markets.

Securing Messaging Infrastructure Against Data Leaks

Many security breaches originate from misconfigured cloud systems rather than direct scam attacks. To safeguard infrastructure, companies should implement strict Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies, encrypt messaging data both at rest and in transit, and regularly audit systems with key or password rotations. According to cybersecurity reports, 80 percent of data breaches involve weak access controls, highlighting the importance of hardened infrastructure to prevent unauthorized data exposure.

Building Awareness Among Employees and Customers

The human factor remains the largest vulnerability in SMS scam prevention. Training internal teams to recognize and escalate fraud attempts is essential. Additionally, proactively educating customers through onboarding communications and account notifications helps reduce susceptibility. Including scam warning banners in transactional messages—for example, disclaimers stating that the brand will never ask for passwords or payment details via SMS—can reinforce safe behavior. Studies show that awareness campaigns can decrease phishing click rates by up to 60 percent, proving the value of education.

Salesforce’s Approach to Building Trust Through Messaging

Salesforce emphasizes that trust is the foundation of effective messaging. Its Marketing Cloud products incorporate spam detection layers, consent-first engagement tools, and global compliance controls across SMS, WhatsApp, and other channels. The goal is not only to help brands reach customers’ inboxes but also to build long-term trust. Given that SMS scams threaten both security and brand reputation, companies that adopt strong sending practices, maintain compliant infrastructure, and deploy smart detection tools will better protect customer confidence. The tools to act are available, and with risks escalating, now is the time for businesses to prioritize SMS security and trust.