The toxic text messages mainly claimed to be from banks or other financial institutions.

Fake finance text were only exceeded by parcel and package delivery scams which formed over 53% of the total of ‘smishing’ text messages, according to new data provided to trade body UK Finance by cybersecurity company Proofpoint.

Proofpoint operates the 7726 text message system on behalf of mobile phone operators which allows customers to report suspicious texts. The numbers 7726 on a keypad spell out the word ‘SPAM'.  

Smishing is used to target consumers with texts impersonating trusted organisations. The text messages often contain a link to a fraudulent website. 

Each year Proofpoint says it receives millions of text messages reported as spam.

During the most recent 30-day period, the proportion of delivery scam texts has increased significantly and represents three times the number of those pretending to be from a bank. This may be a sign that scammers are finding fake delivery text messages more successful than scam finance texts.

Malicious texts are often part of a wider scam, says UK Finance. If someone clicks on a link and provides information, they may then get a phone call from someone claiming to be from their bank. 

Exploiting the personal and financial information provided in the text message, the scammer then offers to help 'safeguard' funds by trying to convince someone to transfer money into a “safe account”, which is in fact an account run by the same criminal that sent the original text message. 

Reports to the 7726 system are being used by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to take down fraudulent website URLs and prevent further fraud losses.

Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said: “We are urging people to follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and to always stop and think whenever you get a text message out of the blue before parting with your information or money."