Scams Are Moving From Email to Text Messages
Text Messages Are Catching Up to Email
The way scams reach people is changing. According to PYMNTS Intelligence research, text messages were the first point of contact for 12% of scam victims, a 35% increase since September 2025. Over the same period, email fell 30% to 13%. Less than a year ago, email led text by 10 percentage points, and now the gap is less than 1.5 points.
Why the Channel Matters
When a scam starts with a text or social media message, financial institutions have very little to see. They can monitor logins and flag unusual account activity, but they cannot read the message that persuaded someone to send money. In many cases, the customer authorizes the payment themselves. The risk often builds well before a transaction ever appears.
Scams Move Fast Once Contact Is Made
Speed makes these scams especially damaging. 43% of victims made or authorized a payment within an hour of first contact, and 63% did so within a day. Many realized something was wrong almost right away, with 35% discovering their money was gone within 30 minutes of the first transaction. That leaves a very short window to step in.
Not Every Scam Follows the Same Timeline
Payment timing varies widely by scam type. Fake online store and marketplace scams are among the quickest, with 79% of victims paying within a day and a median time to payment of under an hour. Romance scams move far more slowly, with only 16% of victims paying within a day and a median of at least two weeks. Fraud controls need to catch both quick, unusual payments and slower schemes built on trust.
Younger Consumers Face More Exposure by Text
The shift toward text is not the same for everyone. Among Gen Z victims, 15% said their scam began with a text message, 32% higher than the average across all victims. Social media plays an even bigger role, with 23% of Gen Z victims pointing to it as the starting point. Fraud prevention now has to account for scams that begin on several different platforms.
The Payment Is Where Fraud Becomes Visible
Since the conversation happens elsewhere, the payment itself is often the first real signal. A new recipient, an unusual amount or destination, or a sudden change in normal activity can point to a scam in progress. As text closes the gap with email, more fraud detection depends on spotting what happens after the message. Watching payment behaviour is becoming one of the most reliable lines of defence.
What This Means for Businesses
Fake online store scams show how quickly a familiar-looking business can be used to trick shoppers. Businesses can help protect customers by being clear about how they communicate and never asking for payment details through unexpected texts. On the payment side, monitoring that flags unusual activity quickly can help stop fraud before losses grow. A responsive payment partner makes it easier to act fast when something does not look right.
More Than a Transaction
Payments don't stop when a transaction is approved. When issues arise, businesses need real support, fast answers, and teams that take ownership.
Kubera provides payment infrastructure backed by real support and accountability.
- No automated phone tree
- End-to-end issue ownership
- Continuity of support
Contact our team at sales@kuberapayments.com or 604-484-9278
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