The state of the robotext in 2023
78 billion
robotexts received by Americans in the first half of 2023
$13 billion
estimated losses to robotext scams in the first half of 2023
$7 million
SMS scam losses prevented by Robokiller in 2023
+18%
year-over-year change from the first half of 2022
+$4 billion
year-over-year change from the first half of 2022
Robotexts are ahead of last year's pace at the midway point
Robotexts have become an everyday concern for Americans, and there's no end in sight (at least yet). According to the FTC, an estimated 54,208 complaints about unwanted text messages have already been placed in 2023. This is particularly concerning, given how effective these scams are. Scammers often send messages impersonating legitimate businesses to trick people into clicking links and sharing personal information — to great effect. Thus far in 2023, they've stolen an estimated $13 billion via SMS fraud.
Robotexts have accelerated on account of the fact that they're an easier method of fraud for scammers. The FCC has combated robocalls through regulations like STIR/SHAKEN and by cracking down on the likes of car warranty and student loan robocalls. This fight against robocalls dates all the way back to 2016 when the FCC held its first-ever meeting of the Robocall Strike Force to develop solutions to prevent them.
All the while, SMS remained relatively unchecked — until recently. Last year, the FCC began to address the growing robotext problem, but chances are it will take time before Americans feel the full effects. Keep in mind, the fight to eliminate robocalls has waged on for years.
Top scams shed light on what's working for scammers
Scammers are honing in on what works, and the results are proving costly, as Americans have already lost $13 billion to text scams in 2023 so far. Robokiller predicts that robotexts will continue to increase as government regulations tighten against robocalls. And with another Presidential election on the horizon, robotexts are likely to increase in the latter half of 2023 heading into 2024.
SMS spam is a nationwide concern
The state of the robocall in 2023
31 billion
robocalls received by Americans in the first half of 2023
$33 billion
estimated losses to robocall scams in the first half of 2023
$91 million
scam call losses prevented by Robokiller in 2023
-21%
year-over-year change from the first half of 2022
+$3 billion
year-over-year change from the first half of 2022
Meanwhile, robocalls are on the decline
Americans are finally starting to feel some reprieve from the onslaught of robocalls they've become accustomed to. The FCC has made strides against well-known robocalls, limiting their reach. Even so, Americans are still losing millions to phone scams — thus far, in 2023, scammers have stolen an estimated $33 billion via this method of fraud. Robokiller believes that figure might approach last year's record $65 billion, despite there being fewer scam calls overall. Scammers are getting more bang for their buck, so it's imperative to stay vigilant.
Robocalls are down, but at what cost?
In a typical year, vehicle warranty calls would lead the way with no other robocall category in sight. That all changed in late 2022 when the FCC cracked down on car warranty scams. Since then, these calls have virtually vanished. Now, the vast majority of unwanted calls come from telemarketers, but various other types of scam robocalls to watch out for include:
Recently the FTC announced plans to combat the illegal telemarketing calls making their way to American phones. Labeled “Operation Stop Scam Calls,” it involves more than 180 actions targeting scammers that are responsible for billions of robocalls. These efforts are another stride in the effort to decrease the amount of robocalls Americans receive. Even so, Robokiller believes it will still take some time before Americans see any significant impact.
How to stop phone scams
Robotexts and robocalls remain a serious concern. Here are some steps you can take to stay safe.
Don’t answer phone calls or texts from unknown numbers, especially those that call or text at odd hours.
Don’t follow prompts like “Press 1” or click any links.
Never provide personal information like banking details or other sensitive information.
Download a spam text and call blocker like Robokiller to equip your phone with the latest technology to stop scams.
The Robokiller difference
1.4 billion
scammers blocked
$740 million
losses prevented to scams
99%
accurate robocall & robotext blocking
Eliminate spam with Robokiller
Regardless of what happens in terms of government regulations, carrier efforts to stop spam, and scammers seeking new and creative ways to steal, one thing is certain: Robokiller keeps your phone scam-free.
Robokiller's award-winning technology silences scammers before they can reach you. With 99.9% effective robocall and robotext protection, you won't need 100% accurate scam radar of your own.
Robokiller eliminates 99% of unwanted calls and texts.
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