That 'expiring points' text might be a scam

AI-powered texts are impersonating major brands to trick consumers into handing over personal information

April 29, 2026

• Scammers are using AI to send convincing expiring rewards points texts that impersonate major brands like telecom companies and retailers

• These messages create urgency and often link to fake websites designed to steal personal or financial information

• Experts say the safest move is to ignore unexpected texts and check your accounts directly through official websites or apps

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If youve recently gotten a text warning that your reward points are about to expire, youre not alone and you may want to think twice before clicking anything.

A new wave of scams is targeting consumers across the U.S. by posing as trusted brands and creating a false sense of urgency around loyalty rewards. These messages often look convincing, mimicking companies like major telecom providers or retailers, and push you to redeem now before its too late.

According to TrendLife, scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to generate highly personalized, brand-specific messages at scale. The result? Fraud attempts that are not only more frequent, but also much harder to spot.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Marike Kuyper, Manager of Content Marketing and Education at TrendLife, and she explained how these scams are evolving, why rewards programs have become such a prime target, and what simple steps consumers can take to protect themselves.

What signs to look for

These scams operate in the same way. First, youll receive a text message claiming that your rewards points from a well-known brand are about to expire. The message will urge you to take immediate action, usually with a link to redeem points before theyre lost.

Kuyper explained that many scammers are pretending to be popular phone carriers in the U.S., like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Its common to see messages that look like this: Your AT&T reward points expire today. Redeem now, or Final notice: your Verizon points are about to expire.

What makes these scams particularly effective is how familiar they feel, she said. Loyalty programs are part of everyday life, so these messages blend in easily.

Our researchers have observed campaigns timed to coincide with genuine loyalty program news cycles, so that when a consumer has vaguely heard something about points expiring, the scam text feels like confirmation rather than a red flag, creating manufactured credibility. Increasingly, these scams are also part of broader, multi-step campaigns where a simple text can lead to a fake website, additional messages, or even a follow-up call as attackers try to build trust and extract more information.

Other red flags to keep in mind

Like many scams, urgency is a key tactic. However, Kuyper highlighted several other warning signs to watch for:

• Messages citing an exact point balance such as 11,430 rewards points remaining. Legitimate loyalty programs dont typically text you your precise point balance with a redemption link out of the blue.

• Messages are about rewards programs that you dont actively use or track.

• Links dont match the official domain of the brand (e.g. verizon.com, t-mobile.com, etc.).

• There are requests for personal, login, or payment information to redeem points.

• There are subtle inconsistencies in sender details or branding.

• Being asked to continue the interaction on another platform, such as moving from SMS to a messaging app, website, or phone call

That last tactic, known as platform hopping, is increasingly common, Kuyper said. Scammers use platform hopping to extend the interaction across channels, making the experience feel more legitimate and reducing the chance a victim will recognize the fraud occurring.

How to protect yourself

To protect yourself against these scams, Kuyper recommends that consumers slow down and verify before acting. Here are some of her other tips for staying safe online:

• Never click links in unsolicited messages

• Go directly to the companys official website or app to check your account

• Verify communications through trusted customer service channels

• Never share personal or financial information via text

• Use security tools, like Trend Micro ScamCheck, to identify and flag suspicious activity in real time

 

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