Smishing Guide · 2026
How to report a scam text (SMS / smishing)
The complete playbook for shutting down a smishing campaign: 7726 carrier forward, the FTC, the FCC, and the impersonated brand. Free, anonymous, under 2 minutes.
The 10-step scam-text reporting checklist
- 1
Don't click the link, don't reply STOP
Both confirm your number is active and feed it into resale lists. Just leave the text in your inbox until you've forwarded it.
- 2
Screenshot the message
Capture the sender number / shortcode, the full message text (with any URL visible), and the date/time. You'll re-use this evidence for every report below.
- 3
Forward to 7726 (SPAM)
iPhone: long-press → More → Forward → send to 7726. Android: ⋮ → Forward → 7726. Your carrier replies asking for the sender number — reply with it. This pushes the number to the carrier-level block list within minutes.
- 4
Report inside Messages
iPhone: tap 'Report Junk' under the message (visible for senders not in your contacts). Android Messages: ⋮ → 'Block & report spam'. Both feed your provider's filter and stop the campaign for other users.
- 5
Report to GACS
Submit at /report. The number + linked domain are added to the public scam database within minutes.
- 6
Report to the FTC
File at reportfraud.ftc.gov — 5 minutes. The FTC feeds reports into the Consumer Sentinel Network used by 3,000+ partner agencies.
- 7
Report to the FCC
File at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov — pick 'Unwanted texts'. The FCC pursues smishing networks and STIR/SHAKEN violators and shares data with carriers.
- 8
Report the linked URL
If the text contained a link, run it through the GACS website checker, then file separately with Google Safe Browsing (safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish) so Chrome / Safari / Firefox show a warning to the next person.
- 9
Report to the impersonated brand
Fake USPS: spam@uspis.gov. Fake bank: forward to the bank's published abuse address (search '[bank] report phishing text'). Fake Amazon: stop-spoofing@amazon.com. Fake IRS: phishing@irs.gov. Brand abuse teams pursue infrastructure takedowns.
- 10
Warn your network
Smishing waves run in geographic bursts — your friends and family on the same carrier are likely next. Post the screenshot on your group chats and on the GACS public page.
Free copy-paste reporting templates
Reports written in plain English with concrete evidence get actioned faster than walls of text. Copy a template, swap in the details, and paste.
Carrier 7726 forward (US / Canada / UK)
Where to send: Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)
Forward the entire message. The carrier auto-replies asking for the sender number — reply with the number from the message header. No further detail needed.
FTC complaint — smishing
Where to send: reportfraud.ftc.gov
Type: Text / SMS scam (smishing) Sender number / shortcode: +1 (XXX) XXX-XXXX Date / time received: [date] [time], [timezone] Claimed identity: [e.g. USPS package redelivery] Full message text: [paste] Linked URL: [paste] Did I click: [yes / no] Did I lose money: [yes / no — amount + method] Screenshots attached.
FAQ
What's 7726 and why forward there?
7726 spells 'SPAM' on a phone keypad. It's a carrier-wide shortcode (free in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most major networks) that routes the message straight to your carrier's abuse team. They use it to update network-level block lists — one forward can stop the number reaching millions of subscribers.
Will the scammer know I reported them?
No. 7726 forwards, in-Messages reports, and FTC / FCC filings are not sent back to the sender. The carrier may suspend the sending number, but the scammer just rotates to a new one — they get no notification.
I tapped the link. What now?
If you didn't enter anything, you're probably fine — close the page and clear browser data. If you entered credentials, change the password and enable MFA on that account immediately. If you entered card or banking info, call your bank now and ask for a freeze + re-issue.
Should I reply STOP?
Not to a scam text. STOP works for legitimate marketing senders who follow the TCPA. To a scammer, it just confirms your number is monitored and triples the volume. Forward to 7726 instead.
I keep getting the same scam from different numbers. Why?
Smishing networks rotate through hundreds of disposable VoIP numbers per campaign. Each 7726 forward kills one number, not the network — but it does shorten the average lifespan of a number from days to hours, which makes the campaign less profitable and shortens its run.
Can I report scam texts from outside the US?
Yes — 7726 works on most major carriers in the UK, Canada, Australia, and across the EU. For the regulator, file with your national equivalent of the FTC: UK Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk), Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre.ca), Australian Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au).
Report a scam in 30 seconds.
Add it to the public scam database — protect the next person.
Report a scamSee every channel: How to report a scam — full hub →
Cite this page / Press kit
Journalists, researchers and educators are welcome to cite this page. Use the permalink below or copy a ready-made citation.
Permalink
https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-text- APA
GACS. (2026). How to Report a Scam Text (Free, 2026 Guide). GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-text
- MLA
"How to Report a Scam Text (Free, 2026 Guide)." GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety, GACS, 2026, https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-text. Accessed September 23, 2026.
- Chicago
GACS. "How to Report a Scam Text (Free, 2026 Guide)." GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety. Accessed September 23, 2026. https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-text.
- BibTeX
@misc{gacs_how_to_report_a_scam_text, author = {GACS}, title = {How to Report a Scam Text (Free, 2026 Guide)}, howpublished = {GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety}, year = {2026}, note = {Accessed: September 23, 2026}, url = {https://gacs.app/how-to-report-a-scam-text} }
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Authoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- US Federal Communications Commission — Robocalls
Regulator guidance on blocking unwanted calls and texts.
- US National Do Not Call Registry
Register a number and file telemarketing complaints.
- UK Ofcom — Nuisance Calls and Messages
UK regulator advice and reporting routes for scam calls and SMS.
