Scam Initial Contact Channel Shifts to Text Messages
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AI-assisted source synthesis · not an independent investigation.
On October 8, 2026, PYMNTS, citing a PYMNTS Intelligence report, said that the proportion of scam victims who first encountered a scam via text messages had risen 35% since September 2025, reaching 12% in July. During the same period, the proportion who first encountered a scam via email fell 30%, to 13%. The report also said that 43% of victims paid or authorized payment within 1 hour of first encountering a scam. The report noted that financial institutions may need to identify risk by combining payment behaviors such as new payees, unusual amounts, or unusual transaction patterns.
AI-written from reports · updated 12 days ago
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- PYMNTSScams’ initial contact shifts from email to text messages, with texts rising to 12%
A PYMNTS Intelligence report shows that the share of scam victims first contacted by text messages rose 35% from September 2025, reaching 12% in July; during the same period, the share for email fell 30% to 13%. 43% of victims paid or authorized a payment within 1 hour of the initial contact, meaning financial institutions may need to identify risks from payment behaviors such as new payees, unusual amounts, or transaction patterns.