Blue Wolfe Financial | Planning & Wealth Management

Protecting Yourself from the Scam Calls and Texts Hitting Your Phone Every Day

Chad Mangum

Every day, our phones buzz with calls and texts that look legitimate but are anything but. From urgent-sounding messages about bank accounts to too‑good‑to‑be‑true investment pitches—or even someone pretending they’ve texted the wrong number—these scams are becoming more sophisticated and more frequent.

The articles linked below pull back the curtain on where many of these operations originate and the networks of people behind them. Understanding how these scams work is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.

How to Protect Yourself

Be skeptical of urgency. Scammers rely on pressure tactics—“act now,” “your account is locked,” “you owe immediately.” Real institutions don’t communicate this way.
Never click on unexpected links or share personal information from texts, emails, or calls, even if they look official.
Verify directly. If the message claims to be from your bank, credit card company, or even a family member, reach out using a trusted phone number or website—not the one provided in the message.
Use call‑blocking tools and enable spam filters on your phone and email whenever possible.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it usually is.

If You Receive a Suspicious Message

The best steps are simple: hang up, delete the message, and report it to your carrier or to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. A moment of caution can prevent costly mistakes and protect your personal information.