Medium riskText Message

Roaming Charge Text Scam

This scam texts travellers that they must activate roaming or pay a data fee through a link, leading to a fake page that collects card and account details while you are abroad and less able to verify.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Carrier impersonation (smishing)
Main red flag
A roaming or travel data text asking you to activate or pay through a link.
What to do first
Do not tap the link. Manage roaming only in your carrier's official app or website.

What to know first

This scam texts travellers that they must activate roaming or pay a data fee through a link, leading to a fake page that collects card and account details while you are abroad and less able to verify.

Text-message scams, known as "smishing", reach you directly on your phone where a link is only a tap away and messages feel personal and urgent. They impersonate trusted senders, banks, couriers, government, or even people you know, and depend on you acting before you pause to verify.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: A roaming or travel data text asking you to activate or pay through a link. Do not tap the link. Manage roaming only in your carrier's official app or website.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Fake Phone Carrier Text Scam and the SIM Swap Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Text Message Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

$330M
reported lost to text-message scams in the US in 2022, more than double the year before
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
#1
fake bank fraud alerts were the most-reported text scam type in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Tell-tale red flags

  • A roaming activation or fee demand by link
  • Timing that targets you just after you travel
  • A web address that is not your carrier
  • A request for card or account login details
  • Urgency about losing connectivity

Staying safe

  • Manage roaming only through your carrier's official app or website
  • Set up roaming before you travel through official channels
  • Contact your carrier using the number on its official site
  • Report the text and delete it

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Welcome abroad! Your roaming is not active. Activate your travel data plan now to stay connected: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What to notice: A roaming or travel data text asking you to activate or pay through a link.

Steps if you already acted

  • Do not enter card or login details on the page
  • If you entered your card, contact your bank to flag it
  • Change your carrier account password if you entered a login
  • Watch your statements for unexpected charges

Common mistakes

  • Do not activate roaming through a text link
  • Do not enter card details to 'stay connected'
  • Do not reply to the message

Scams like this one

Medium risk Text Message

Fake Phone Carrier Text Scam

This scam sends a text posing as your mobile network, claiming a loyalty reward, overdue bill, or account problem, and links to a fake login or payment page that harvests your details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Text Message

SIM Swap Scam

In a SIM swap scam, a fraudster persuades your mobile carrier to move your number to their SIM, then intercepts your calls and one-time codes to break into your accounts.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Text Message

Account Suspended Text Scam

This scam texts that an account has been suspended, limited, or locked for 'security reasons' and links to a fake login page that captures your username, password, and other details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Does my carrier text links to activate roaming?
Roaming is managed in your carrier's official app or account settings. A text link demanding activation or payment is a common scam, especially while travelling.
Why target me when I'm abroad?
Travelling makes it harder to verify and easier to panic about losing connectivity, which scammers exploit.
I entered my card. What now?
Contact your bank to flag or freeze the card, change your carrier password if you logged in, and watch for unexpected charges.
How do I set up roaming safely?
Arrange it before you travel through your carrier's official app or website, and ignore activation links sent by text.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.