How scam texts target drivers on the road and what to do when one hits your phone
If you’re a trucker, getting texts from unknown numbers comes with the job. Dispatch updates, brokers, shippers, receivers, roadside services and last-minute load changes often come from numbers you don’t recognize. When you’re running long hours and trying to stay focused on the road, it’s easy to reply without thinking twice.
That’s exactly why scammers are targeting truck drivers.
Bill from Mesa, Arizona, recently shared a story that sounds harmless at first. He received a friendly text asking if he was “available tomorrow evening.” He replied politely, thinking it might be someone he knew. The conversation continued, slowly turning personal, friendly — and oddly persistent. Only later did he realize it followed a familiar scam pattern.
Truckers see this kind of message more than most people.
Scammers know drivers are used to unfamiliar numbers, work odd hours and rely heavily on their phones to keep moving. What starts as small talk can turn into a long-play scam designed to build trust, steal information or push a malicious link when you’re tired and distracted.
Here’s how these scam texts work and how drivers can shut them down fast.
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The anatomy of a text message scam
Text message scams, also known as “smishing” (a combination of SMS and phishing), have become increasingly sophisticated. Scammers use various tactics to engage potential victims and gain their trust. Here are some common elements:
- Unfamiliar numbers: The message comes from a number you don’t recognize. For instance, you might receive a text from +1 (555) 123-4567, a number not in your contacts.
- Unsolicited contact: The text arrives unexpectedly, often with a friendly or urgent tone. Example: “Hey! Long time no see. How have you been?”
- Personal touch: The scammer might use your name or reference a common activity to seem legitimate. Example: “Hi Sarah, it’s Mike from the book club. Are you coming to the meeting next week?”
- Too good to be true: Offers of prizes, invitations or other enticing propositions are common. Example: “Congratulations! You’ve won a $500 gift card. Click here to claim your prize!”
- Requests for information: The scammer may ask for personal details, either directly or indirectly. Example: “This is your bank. We need to verify your account. Please reply with your account number and PIN.”
Remember, these are all examples of potential scams. Always be cautious when receiving unexpected messages, especially those asking for personal information or containing suspicious links.
By keeping the exchange going, they try to build trust over time, with the goal of collecting personal information or eventually sending a malicious link. (Photo Courtesy of Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Understanding the scammer’s strategy
In Bill’s case, the scammer employed a “long-play” strategy. By engaging in friendly conversation and offering invitations, they aim to build trust over time. The end goal could be:
- Phishing for information: Gradually collecting personal details that can be used for identity theft.
- Malware distribution: Eventually sending a link that, when clicked, installs malicious software on your device.
- Financial scams: Building trust to eventually request money or financial information.
Once a scammer knows a number is active, the safest move is to stop responding, block the sender and report the message as spam. (Photo Courtesy of Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to identify suspicious texts
To protect yourself from text message scams, follow these steps:
- Check the sender: Look at the full email address or phone number, not just the display name.
- Analyze the content: Be wary of messages with urgent subjects, grammatical errors or strange URLs.
- Verify independently: If the message claims to be from a known entity, contact them through official channels to confirm.
- Trust your instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t let politeness override your judgment.
What to do if you suspect a scam
If you believe you’ve received a scam text, here are 6 steps to follow:
1) Don’t respond: Avoid engaging with the scammer to prevent further attempts.
2) Block the number: Use your phone’s built-in blocking features to prevent further contact.
- For iPhone: Open the message, tap the sender’s name or number, select “Info,” then “Block Caller.”
- For Android: Open the message, long-press the conversation, tap the three-dot menu and select “Block” or “Block & Report Spam.” You may be asked to confirm your decision by clicking Yes. Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
3) Report the message: Forward the suspicious text to 7726 (SPAM). Also, report it directly to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
4) Keep your information safe: Never click on links or provide personal information in response to unsolicited texts.
5) Have strong antivirus software: Install and run strong antivirus apps on your phone to scan for malware and ensure your device is secure. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com/LockUpYourTech.
6) Invest in personal data removal services: Consider using a data removal service to eliminate your personal information from data broker sites. These services can help reduce spam, decrease the risk of identity theft and clean up your online presence by automating the removal of your data from hundreds of data broker sites.
While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/Delete.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScan.
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This week on Kurt’s podcast, Beyond Connected:
Since opening our call line a couple of months ago, we’ve been getting some great voicemails from listeners, so this episode is a voicemail box special.
We cover a wide range of real-world tech concerns, including what to do if you need to transfer photos and data to a new phone but no longer have access to the old one, how often you really need to upgrade your phone and whether skipping upgrades affects your security, and whether Facebook asking for a video selfie to confirm your identity is a scam.
We also hear from listeners who feel overwhelmed by technology, including one caller who asked how to get antivirus protection set up across all their devices and another who was told their personal information is on the dark web and now feels constantly targeted by scams.
Whether you’re dealing with a similar issue right now or just want to be better prepared, this episode is packed with practical advice and clear steps to help you stay protected.
Related Articles:
- Best services for removing your personal information from the Internet 2026
- Hackers abuse Google Cloud to send trusted phishing emails
- Why you’re getting strange texts from unknown numbers
Kurt’s key takeaways
For truckers, unknown numbers are part of daily life — and that’s exactly what scammers count on. Friendly texts, polite conversation and slow back-and-forth messages are often bait, not coincidence.
You don’t owe anyone a response just because you’re trying to be courteous.
If a message doesn’t clearly connect to your load, your company or someone you can verify, it’s safer to ignore it. Real dispatchers, brokers and companies won’t build relationships through vague texts or ask personal questions over SMS. When in doubt, block it, report it and move on. Protecting your phone protects your routes, your money and your identity.
Have you ever received a strange or friendly text while on the road that later felt “off”? Did you respond, block it or report it? We want to hear what you’ve seen out there, so write to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Kurt the CyberGuy is an award-winning tech journalist who helps people make smart tech decisions from his contributions to Fox News & FOX Business, beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Stay safe & in the know — at no cost. Subscribe to Kurt’s The CyberGuy Report for free security alerts & tech tips.
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Kurt Knutsson — best known as “Kurt the CyberGuy” — has a deep love of technology that makes life better. Because of this, along with a passion for helping others, he created the largest syndicated tech lifestyle franchise on television. As a trusted source, Kurt’s unique insider access to major tech launches and industry visionaries has helped earn him two Emmy Awards and a Golden Mic.
Kurt lives between his home in California and New York City, where he is also the chief tech contributor on Fox News & Fox Business networks beginning his mornings on Fox & Friends.
Kurt’s a curious guy. Like many entrepreneurs in life, he wears several hats like running a private investment fund, giving inspirational talks, mentoring start-ups and traveling the world chasing down the next breakthrough.
