You may feel like scams are everywhere, and you're right. Between unsolicited text messages about unpaid toll and traffic tickets and messages about packages you never ordered, scammers are as persistent as ever and are getting smarter about how they get your money and personal data. With the use of artificial intelligence, spotting these scams has become more difficult.
Shockingly, 96% of Americans receive at least one scam message via email, phone call or text each week, according to a recent CNET survey. CNET's Danni Santana, who regularly tracks and reports on cybersecurity issues, finds this number concerning, but not surprising given the rise in data breaches. Since cybercriminals have access to your contact information via information sold on the dark web, they have different ways to lure you into a scam.
"Data breaches that leak the personal information of everyday Americans, including phone numbers, happen almost every day," said Santana. "Just about all of us have been affected by one, whether we know it or not."
Our experts have a few tips to help you navigate sneaky scam messages. Here's what they advise along with more on CNET's survey findings.
Key takeaways
- 90% of US adults say they receive scam emails on a weekly basis; 37% receive more than 10 scam emails each week.
- 83% of US adults receive scam phone calls each week.
- 82% of US adults receive at least one scam text per week.
- 60% of US adults receive at least one social media scam message per week.
Most US adults get weekly scam messages
Scammers try to reach us in almost every way we communicate. It can happen when we answer the phone (they might even be trying to get a snippet of our voice to use in another scam later), via text message or through a direct social media message that feels personal and authentic.
So how do you protect yourself? Here's what CNET experts recommend.
Most US adults are threatened by email scams weekly
CNET's survey found that email scams are the most common type of scam message US adults receive on a weekly basis -- 90% of Americans get at least one per week. Survey findings also show that older generations, Baby Boomers and Gen X, are the most targeted -- 94% of each group receive at least one scam email a week.
Bree Fowler, CNET's senior security reporter, says phishing emails aren't as easy to spot anymore.
"It used to be that scammers would go with over-the-top phishing emails that wanted you to 'Click now!' saying that you were going to miss out on a great deal, be hit with credit card charges you didn't make or even go to jail for back taxes," said Fowler. But people have caught on to what scammers are up to, and now they're trying to hide in plain sight.
Before you open an email that could be a scam, look closely at the subject line and sender. Fowler said that scam subject lines are a lot less obnoxious than they used to be. For example, shipping notifications are a still popular scam email that can seem harmless because they impersonate companies, such as Amazon or a bank.
If you accidentally open the email, hover over the link to see if anything looks suspicious but don't click it. Fowler also recommends looking for good antivirus software and other security measures such as two-factor authentication and a solid password.
Phone call scams aren't slowing down
I'm all too familiar with getting phone calls from a random phone number in the middle of the day. Scammers are even leaving voicemails now.
Second to emails, phone scams are the next most common with 83% of US adults saying they receive at least one spam phone call a week. Even worse, 23% say they experience 10 or more scam calls per week. By generation, Boomers receive the most spam calls -- 89% receive at least one scam phone call a week.
Nowadays, most phone carriers have features to spot scam calls. My carrier marks these calls as "Spam Risk" to flag suspicious calls to help me better identify them.
If you answer and suspect it's a scammer, hang up right away. You can always call the company the caller claimed to work for, like your bank or utility, to check whether the phone call was legitimate.
There's another risk to talking to scammers on the phone. Some are using artificial intelligence to clone your voice. The scammers then use the recording to make their calls seem more trustworthy to scam others, potentially including your family and friends. The longer a scammer can capture your voice, the more accurate their future calls become.
Read more: Protect Yourself from Anonymous Calls: Unknown Caller vs. No Caller ID
Text message scams can be sneaky
CNET found that 82% of US adults receive text scams weekly. Thirty-four percent reported receiving one to two text scams per week, while 13% said they get 10 or more per week.
Scam texts, also known as "smishing," can add up if you fall for them. US adults lost a whopping $470 million in text scams last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. However, there are ways to catch text scams and keep phishers from stealing your money or identity this way. It starts with being on the lookout for any common scams that are making news headlines.
Santana said that the fact that we continue to see phishing scams is proof that they're working. How often you receive unsolicited texts or phone calls could be a coincidence or it could mean scammers think you're an easy target, he added.
One text scam that's been common this year is messages from fake agencies about unpaid tolls and threats if you don't pay your unpaid balance right away. You may also receive fake messages from what appears to be your bank, a government agency like the IRS or Social Security Administration, or even a hopeful scam message about your student loans qualifying for debt relief. Most of these messages come with an urgent request for a response or a payment.
Santana says it's best to slow down before taking any action if you get a suspicious text. You don't need to respond immediately.
"Whenever you get a random text message claiming you must take action or else, the best thing you can do is take a breath and slow down," said Santana. "Scammers want you to make rash decisions. But if you calm down and analyze the link or even the language used in the message, you have a good chance of identifying the scam."
Read more: If Someone Says, 'You Must Pay, or Else,' It's Likely a Scam. Ways to Protect Yourself
If you do open a scam message, avoid clicking on suspicious links and don't respond. If you don't recognize the number, block the sender and report it as spam. It's also recommended to keep an eye out for updates to your phone's software for spamware defense and security improvements.
Social media scams can look convincing
I've fallen for a social media scam before. I received an offer for discounted tickets to a college football game, and I sent the "seller" a few hundred dollars via Zelle before verifying that they were legitimate.
Over half of US adults (60%) receive one or more direct social media messages per week. Gen Z sees the most social media scams -- 66% receiving at least one per week. So it's important to be vigilant and ignore messages from anyone you don't know. If you receive a suspicious direct message from someone in your contact list, reach out to them via text or the phone to confirm whether it's legitimate.
"The same tactics you use to avoid falling for text messages can be applied to scammers sliding into your DMs with 'too good to be true' deals or money-making opportunities," said Santana. Don't respond to anyone you don't know, and if you believe your loved one is being impersonated, report the message and user right away. Most importantly, don't respond.
Read more: My Kids Were Targeted by Scams. Here's How I Keep Them Safe
Banks are taking action to protect customers. In March, Chase announced that it would block Zelle transactions initiated on social media to protect customers from being scammed. If you're wary of conducting a transaction online, try other trusted sites and payment methods that are verified and provide protections for both buyers and sellers, such as eBay and Mercari.
Most importantly, pay attention to security features and reminders. For example, Venmo asks you to verify the last four digits of a Venmo user you're unfamiliar with before sending money and to be careful when making online purchases. Most peer-to-peer payment apps don't offer fraud protection.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,437 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken April 28-30, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults aged 18 and over.