A text says your package is stuck, your toll is overdue, or your bank account is locked. A chatbot is a decent second opinion on whether it smells wrong. It cannot tell you whether the text is real, because it cannot see your account. So use it for a quick read, then do three checks yourself.

Step 1: paste the text, defanged

Copy the message into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok. Before you paste, put spaces in any web address (toll-pay . com) so nothing is clickable, and delete your own name, account numbers, and any code the text contains. Then:

I got this text message. Do not open any links in it.
1. List the warning signs you see (urgency, threats, odd sender, payment requests, requests for codes or personal info).
2. List anything that looks normal.
3. Tell me what I should check myself before doing anything. Do not say it is definitely real or definitely fake; you can't know that.

[paste the text here]

Step 2: the three checks

1. Go around the message. Do not tap the link or call the number in the text. Open the company’s app, type its website yourself, or call the number on your card or bill. If there is really a problem, it will show up there.
2. Look at what it wants. Pressure to act right now, a request for a gift card, wire transfer, or crypto, or a request for a login code or personal details are classic scam signs. The FTC lists these as the patterns to watch for.
3. Ask whether it fits your life. Did you order something from that carrier? Do you drive that toll road? Do you even bank there? A “yes” does not make the text real, but a “no” pretty much settles it.

If the chatbot says “looks fine” and any of these checks fails, believe the checks.

Step 3: report it and delete it

• Forward the text to 7726 (spells SPAM) so your carrier can block similar ones.
• Use your messaging app’s “report junk” option.
• Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC can’t take forwarded messages, so paste the text into the comments box.

If you already tapped a link, entered a password, or paid, stop reading and call your bank or card company using the number on the back of your card. If you gave out personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. The same “check it yourself” habit works on chatbot answers too; see how to fact-check an AI answer in two minutes.

Skip the chatbot when money already moved or a one-time code went out. Call the bank first; analysis can wait. And never paste a verification code, password, or full card number into a chatbot to “check” it.

Sources (checked November 1, 2026): Federal Trade Commission, ReportFraud.ftc.gov FAQ (forwarding to 7726, reporting in your messaging app, pasting text into a report, and the warning signs listed above).