Is the text about unclaimed money or a state refund real?

Almost always fake. States don't text residents out of the blue about “unclaimed funds” or a “surplus refund” with a link — the link opens a lookalike page that harvests your personal details, or your card number for a tiny “processing fee.” Real unclaimed property is free to search and free to claim through your state's official program (find yours via unclaimed.org), and no legitimate agency charges you to receive your own money. Delete the text, and search your name directly on the official state site if you're curious.

Educational verdict from documented scam patterns — not a live report. For a 0–100 risk score on the exact link in your hand, run the checker.

From the research desk — this pattern is one of those documented in This Week's Scam Wave, in Numbers — July 30, 2026 →