Its tricky to know which one to replace kik with - kik was good simply for it anonymity, not requiring your phone number!
so there's line (but need a phone number to work even if it doesn't reveal it)
Telegram, also needs a phone number.
there's Wickr.me, a privacy-oriented one that doesn;t need a phone number.
But then there's signal which is very very privacy and security oriented even though it needs a phone number to get started. Open source and recommend by Snowden (who'd know a thing about private messaging).
I guess the biggest problem is knowing which one the scammers use and avoid it
