Don’t Reply—Report! The Fastest Way to Fight Scam Texts

We’ve all been there: you’re going about your day when a text pops up from an unknown number. “Hey, is this Julie?” Or my personal favorite: “Did you get the info I sent yesterday?”

On the surface, it feels harmless—maybe even a little amusing. But more often than not, these “wrong number” messages are anything but accidental.

They’re usually smishing attempts.

(That’s phishing… but via SMS.)

And here’s the part most people don’t realize: even replying “STOP” or “Wrong number!” confirms that your phone number is real and active. Once a scammer knows that, you’re officially a target.

So what should you actually do?

The 10-Second, Totally Secure, Professional Move

Forward the suspicious text to 7726.

Yep—that’s it.7726 (which cleverly spells SPAM) is the official reporting number used by every major U.S. mobile carrier, including:

• AT&T

• Verizon

• T-Mobile

When you forward the message, you’re not just protecting yourself. You’re helping shut down the scammer’s entire operation.

What the Carriers Do With Your Report

Their security teams get to work by:

• Reviewing the message content and any links

• Identifying the spoofed or malicious number

• Deploying filters across the network to block future scam attempts

In other words, your 10-second action helps protect millions of people from the same scam. Not bad for a quick tap-and-send.

Next time that “oops, wrong person!” message shows up, skip the reply and go straight to 7726.It’s easy, it’s safe, and it’s one of the most effective tools we have for fighting mobile scams—together.

Stay alert and stay secure!