Money: Fake Recall Texts Is The Next Big Scam Hitting Shoppers

It’s one fast-moving text that some consumers could easily jump on. Who wouldn’t get a little worked up if they suddenly spotted a text that claimed to be from Amazon or another retailer and implied that a baby’s sleepsuit they just bought is being recalled for quality and safety issues? Scammers — who have flooded our phones with fake texts about parking tickets, tolls and job opportunities — now are texting us about recall notices. All you have to do is click on this link for recall instructions and ask for a refund.

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If you didn’t get a text yet about a product recall, just wait. The scam recall text is likely to be a hot one in 2026, according to alerts from consumer watchdogs who have spotted an uptick of complaints about these scams already. “They’re using all the key DNA of any scam,” said Amy Nofziger, senior director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. “They’re using heightened emotional state. They’re using urgency. It comes out of the blue and makes you fearful or whatever,” Nofziger said.

Consumer Reports also warned in March about a surge of phishing scams that start out with fake texts about phony recall notices. The AARP fraud alert on recall scams noted that the fake text message might say something like: “To ensure your safety and process your full refund without delay, please sign into your account through the official website and review your order below.” The link provided in the fake text, of course, doesn’t connect you to an official site. It connects you to the con artists.

Source: USA Today