Scam messages are deceptive communications, often sent via text, email, or social media, designed to trick individuals into providing personal information or money. These messages may claim to be from legitimate organizations, such as banks or government agencies, and often create a sense of urgency to prompt quick responses. Common tactics used in scam messages include phishing, where scammers ask for sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers, and lottery scams, which falsely inform recipients that they have won a prize. It's essential to verify the source of any unexpected message and avoid sharing personal details with unknown contacts.