Cyber crimes are rising, and scammers keep improving their tricks to steal personal information. Federal officials have warned of fake text messages claiming you owe tolls, have overdue fines, or missed deliveries. These scams aim to steal passwords or sensitive details through fake links or phone calls.
Apple and security experts advise deleting such messages immediately. With iOS 26 Messages, iPhones now include new protections that make it harder for scammers to succeed.
According to 9to5Mac, the Messages app now divides conversations into four categories: Messages, Unknown Senders, Spam, and Recently Deleted. Regular chats, verification codes, and reservation updates appear in Messages. Texts from unknown numbers or flagged as spam no longer trigger notifications, reducing the chances of accidental interaction.
The biggest advance comes from two new Spam safeguards. First, any links in Spam texts are disabled. This prevents quick taps on malicious links—a common scam method that cost victims about $470 million in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Second, users can no longer reply to messages inside the Spam folder. A reply is only possible if you move the message back to the main inbox, making accidental engagement far less likely.
Even with these protections, the FTC urges everyone to remain cautious. Scam texts are evolving, and vigilance remains the best defense. With iOS 26 Messages, however, Apple has given users an important new layer of security against “smishing” attempts.
