You’re sitting on your couch, phone pings, and there it is: a text from "Verizon" saying your bill is past due or you’ve won a gift card. It looks real. The logo is there. Maybe they even mention your name. But before you tap that link, stop. Honestly, it’s probably a scam.
Lately, people are getting hit with "Verizon scamming customers text message" lures more than ever. These aren't just annoying; they're dangerous. Scammers have gotten scary good at mimicking the "Big Red" brand. They use your anxiety about service cutoffs or your excitement about a "loyalty reward" to pick your pocket.
Why these texts look so convincing
Scammers use a technique called smishing (SMS phishing). It's basically a digital bait-and-switch. They send thousands of texts at once, hoping just a few people are in a rush and don't look closely.
Usually, the message says something like, "Your Verizon bill payment failed. Click here to update your card and avoid service suspension." If you're actually expecting a bill, you might panic. You click. Suddenly, you’re on a website that looks exactly like the My Verizon login page. You enter your username, password, and maybe even your credit card.
Boom. They have everything.
It’s not just "failed payments" anymore either. In early 2026, we've seen a surge in "outage credit" scams. Following real network issues—like the one on January 14, 2026—scammers started sending texts promising a $20 or $50 credit. Verizon did actually offer some credits, but they told customers to redeem them through the official app. Scammers, meanwhile, sent links to fake portals.
Telltale signs it’s a scam
Verizon is a massive corporation. They have rules. Scammers? Not so much. Here is how you can tell the difference:
- The sender's number is weird. Official Verizon texts usually come from "short codes"—those 5 or 6-digit numbers. If you get a text from a random 10-digit number or a strange email address (like
verizon-security@gmail.com), it’s a fake. - The link is "off." Check the URL. It might say
vzw-billing-update.comorverizon.net-login.com. Real Verizon links will almost always beverizon.comorvzw.com. - The tone is aggressive. "ACT NOW" or "Your service WILL be terminated in 2 hours." Verizon might send reminders, but they don't usually act like a debt collector from a bad movie.
- Grammar issues. Even in 2026, with AI tools everywhere, scammers still make typos. Look for weird spacing, random capital letters, or "kinda" funky phrasing that a professional company wouldn't use.
The "Internal" scam: When it’s actually Verizon (sort of)
There’s a different kind of "scamming" customers talk about on forums like Reddit. It's not a criminal in a basement; it’s the frustration of "unauthorized" billing changes.
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I’ve seen dozens of complaints where customers claim they were promised one rate, only to see "administrative fees" or "protection plans" they never asked for show up on the bill. While not a "scam" in the criminal sense, it feels just as bad. People often call this "bill cramming."
For example, a customer might go into a store to upgrade a phone, and the rep adds a $17/month insurance plan without explicitly saying it costs extra. If you don't check your PDF statement every month, you could pay hundreds before you notice.
What to do if you get one
If a text lands in your inbox and your gut says it’s fishy, trust it.
- Don't click. Don't even reply "STOP." Replying lets the scammer know your number is "live" and active. They’ll just sell your number to five other scammers.
- Forward to 7726. This is the universal "SPAM" reporting code. Verizon uses this data to block these numbers on their network level. It actually helps.
- Go to the source. If you’re worried about your bill, close the text. Open your browser. Manually type in
verizon.comor open the official My Verizon app. If there’s a real problem, it’ll be there. - Block the number. Simple, but effective.
If you already clicked...
Look, it happens. If you entered your info on a site you now realize was fake, you need to move fast. Change your Verizon password immediately. If you gave out credit card info, call your bank and tell them you’ve been "smished."
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your account if you haven't. It’s 2026—using just a password is like leaving your front door unlocked with a sign that says "Welcome." Use an authenticator app rather than just SMS codes if possible, because "SIM swapping" is another way scammers can hijack your life.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your "Add-ons" today: Log into the My Verizon app and look at your current services. If you see "Digital Secure" or "Cloud Storage" that you don't use, remove them.
- Turn on "Email-to-Text" blocks: Many scam texts are sent from email addresses to your phone number. You can actually call Verizon or use the chat to ask them to block all "email-to-text" messages. This kills a huge chunk of spam.
- Set a Billing Pin: This prevents anyone (even a smooth-talking scammer) from making changes to your account or porting your number away without your secret code.
Stay skeptical. Verizon won't text you out of the blue to give you a "free" iPad or ask for your Social Security number to "validate" a $5 bill. If it sounds too good—or too scary—it’s probably a trap.