Ohio Residents Warned About Eight Common Text Message Scams

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions Ohio consumers that text-message scams continue to cost Americans millions of dollars each year. Scammers impersonate agencies and businesses to steal personal and financial information.

Eight scams highlighted for Ohio residents include: fake unpaid‑toll notices, bogus U.S. Postal Service delivery alerts, counterfeit bank‑security messages, fraudulent jury‑duty notices, deceptive job‑offer texts, government‑impersonation messages (IRS, SSA, etc.), unsolicited invitation links, and “wrong‑number” phishing attempts that often pivot to romance or cryptocurrency schemes. All involve links or requests for verification codes that can lead to credential theft or malware.

Victims are urged never to click links or provide personal data in unsolicited texts, even if the message appears legitimate. The FTC advises that legitimate banks and government agencies will not request security codes or payments via SMS.