What does "possible spam / arnaque" mean?
Reviewed by Anthon Wansland
Head of Product & Co-Founder
Serus is a privacy company with paid tools to find and remove your personal data. This page is free and based on official sources.
Definition
Possible spam / arnaque is a warning label on a call or text that your phone or carrier thinks may be unwanted or a scam. "Arnaque" is French for scam. The label is a guess, not proof.
- Category
- Scams
- Also called
- possible spam arnaque, possible arnaque, spam suspected
- Last updated
Sources checked: consumer.ftc.gov, antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Last verified against the official page:
The label pairs the English "spam" with the French "arnaque" (scam). It is a flag that your phone or carrier attached to a call or message. It means the sender looks suspicious. It does not mean the message is certainly fake, and a missing label does not mean a message is safe.
The usual reason for a flag is a text or call that fits a known scam pattern. The US Federal Trade Commission describes the common ones: fake prize or gift card offers, a made-up problem with your payment information, a fake invoice that tells you to get in touch if you didn't authorize the purchase, a pretend delivery notice, or a warning about suspicious activity on your account. Each is built to make you click a link or hand over personal details.
The link is where the damage happens. The FTC says some links lead to a spoofed website that looks real, and if you log in the scammers can steal your username and password. Other links can install malware that steals personal or financial information without you noticing. Scammers can also sell what they collect to other scammers.
What to do with a flagged message
Don't click links and don't reply with personal or financial details. The FTC says legitimate companies won't ask for information about your account by text. If the message might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you already know is real, not the contact details in the message.
If you already typed in a password or card number, tell your bank or the account provider right away, then change the password.
Spam vs. scam
Spam is unwanted bulk messaging, often just advertising. A scam is meant to steal money or information. The label covers both, so treat any message that asks for details as a scam until you've checked it another way.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Don't tap links or call back numbers in the message
Look up the company yourself and contact it through a number or site you know is real. This is the FTC's advice for any unexpected text that asks for account or personal information.
- 2
Report it
In the US, forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), report it in your messaging app, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In Canada, report fraud and cybercrime to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online (you can do it anonymously), then delete the message. If you've lost money or details, also contact your local police.
- 3
Turn on your phone's spam filtering
The FTC points to the filter and block options on iPhone and Android, and to call and text blocking tools from your wireless provider. Check your carrier's options.
- 4
Act fast if you shared details
Contact your bank or card issuer, change the password on the affected account, and watch your statements. Serus finds where your phone number and address are listed online and removes them, which can cut down how many scam messages reach you.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is a message marked possible spam always a scam?
No. The label is an automatic guess. Some flagged messages are just unwanted marketing, and some real ones get flagged by mistake. Verify through a number or website you already trust before acting on it.
What does arnaque mean?
Arnaque is the French word for a scam or swindle. The label pairs it with the English "spam" warning.
Should I reply STOP to a possible spam text?
The FTC's advice for unexpected texts that ask for information is not to click links and to report the message. It doesn't tell you to reply, so don't answer a message you suspect is a scam.
Where do I report a scam text?
In the US, forward it to 7726 and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In Canada, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Both accept reports even if you didn't lose money.
Sources
- How to Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages · consumer.ftc.gov
- Report fraud and cybercrime · antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
- Phishing · antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
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