With that in mind, it is better to be safe than sorry, and never click on any link in a message, regardless of how official ...

Most other numbers will be in the familiar 10-digit format that's standard in the U.S., as you'd expect from a sender that claims to be U.S.-based. Occasionally, there will be numbers that are ...

If the message came from what is known as a short code (five to six digits) instead of a standard 10-digit phone number, there are ways to search for the owner of that shortcode.

For example, you might get a text message or email with a six-digit code that you must enter when you log into your bank account. This extra level of protection keeps scammers and hackers out.

Smishing is a type of fraud in which scammers send text messages posing as businesses, government agencies or even people you ...

Check the number at the top of the text. When a company you do business with sends texts to you, it's not from a 10-digit phone number that looks like it’s from a friend.