High riskText Message

Mobile Wallet Charge Text Scam

This scam texts that a payment was made from your mobile wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, and tells you to tap a link or call a number to 'dispute' it, leading to a fake page or a scammer posing as support.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Payment-alert phishing (smishing)
Main red flag
A text about a wallet payment you did not make, urging you to dispute it through a link or call.
What to do first
Do not tap or call. Check payments only in your wallet app and your bank's app.

What to know first

This scam texts that a payment was made from your mobile wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, and tells you to tap a link or call a number to 'dispute' it, leading to a fake page or a scammer posing as support.

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 text about a wallet payment you did not make, urging you to dispute it through a link or call. Do not tap or call. Check payments only in your wallet app and your bank's app.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Fake Bank Alert Text Scam and the Account Suspended Text 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 wallet payment alert by text rather than in the app
  • A link or number to 'dispute' or 'cancel' the charge
  • A large amount designed to make you panic
  • A request for your wallet PIN, card, or codes
  • A web address that is not your bank or wallet provider

Staying safe

  • Check recent payments only in your wallet app and bank app
  • Contact your bank using the number on your card if unsure
  • Never share wallet codes, PINs, or one-time passcodes
  • Report the text to your mobile provider's spam service if available

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'A payment of $499.00 to an online retailer was authorised via your mobile wallet. If this wasn't you, dispute immediately: [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 text about a wallet payment you did not make, urging you to dispute it through a link or call.

Steps if you already acted

  • Do not enter card, wallet, or code details on the page
  • If you shared details, contact your bank immediately to secure your accounts
  • Review your wallet and bank transactions for anything unfamiliar
  • Change passwords you may have entered

Common mistakes

  • Do not tap dispute links in payment-alert texts
  • Do not share one-time codes with a 'support agent'
  • Do not call numbers provided in the text

Scams like this one

High risk Bank & Payment

Fake Bank Alert Text Scam

This scam sends a text claiming suspicious activity on your account, then steers you to a fake login page or a 'fraud agent' who pressures you to move money.

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
High risk Text Message

Two-Factor Code Text Scam

In this scam a fraudster triggers a genuine two-factor or one-time code to your phone, then poses as support staff or a contact to pressure you into reading it back so they can take over your account.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Does my mobile wallet text me about disputes?
Genuine payment activity appears in your wallet and bank apps. An unexpected text with a dispute link or number is a phishing attempt, so check in the apps directly.
The amount looked real. Should I worry?
Scammers use believable amounts to trigger panic. Verify any charge in your wallet and bank app rather than reacting to the text.
I tapped the link and entered details. What now?
Contact your bank immediately to secure your accounts, review your transactions, and change any passwords you entered.
Why do they want me to call?
A call lets a scammer pose as support and talk you into sharing codes or moving money. Banks never ask you to read out one-time codes.

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.