People accidentally text the wrong number all the time, and we’re sure you too have received texts that were meant for somebody else at least once in your lifetime.
Unfortunately, wrong-number texts are no longer just innocent mistakes. Scammers now intentionally send wrong-number texts to catch you off guard and exploit your friendliness, sympathy and kindness for financial gain.
These texts though are not so obvious from the beginning, with no red flags such as suspicious links or mentions of you winning a prize.
How the scam works
Malicious individuals send innocent texts addressed to someone else about a party, medical appointment or business meeting. Once you’ve texted the person back with a message like “Sorry, wrong number,” the scammer tries to pull you into a friendly conversation. Some even try to cultivate a romantic long-distance relationship with victims who are coerced into sending them money or investing in cryptocurrency schemes.
Fraudsters who deploy such social engineering schemes have a lot of patience, playing the long game with multiple victims at once in an attempt to achieve their goals. They prey on your friendliness and slowly but surely lure you into some sort of scam.
The FBI has issued a warning about such texts, advising recipients to not respond or click on any links (if present).
“The scammers behind the fake wrong-number text messages are counting on you to continue the conversation,” the FBI said. “They want to exploit your friendliness. Once they’ve made a connection, they’ll work to become friends or even cultivate a remote romantic relationship. It’s all a ruse, designed to get you to relax your mistrust so you’ll be more susceptible to falling for their scam, such as a cryptocurrency investment or many others targeting victims.”
The best way to protect against wrong-number text scams is to ignore them completely. If you do happen to respond to such texts, don’t feel tempted to continue the conversation.
You’ve already acted politely, and you shouldn’t feel obliged to continue a conversation with a stranger.
Make sure to delete the message and block the number to avoid getting spammed in the future. Never share personal info or details about your workplace, how much money you make or your home address.
Bitdefender’s Scam Alert feature can help you fend off scams and malicious links delivered through SMS, messaging apps, and notifications. The feature is available in our Bitdefender Mobile Security solution (for Android and iOS) and together with the Web Protection module can help you safeguard your data and money against dangerous e-threats.
Read more about our solutions, here.
FAQs
The best way to protect against wrong-number text scams is to ignore them completely. If you do happen to respond to such texts, don't feel tempted to continue the conversation. You've already acted politely, and you shouldn't feel obliged to continue a conversation with a stranger.
Can you get scammed from a wrong number text? ›
Though they're posing as regular people who entered the wrong numbers on their phones, the scammers who run fake wrong-number text scams use extremely sophisticated technology to commit their crimes. Protect yourself by not responding to unknown text messages.
How to respond to wrong number text? ›
Sorry, Wrong Number
- Don't respond to texts from unknown numbers.
- If you think you are engaging with a scammer via text, you should report and block the scammer while following the instructions from your phone provider.
- Don't supply any personal or financial information in response to a text message.
In some cases, yes. Replying to a smishing message can allow malware into your phone or land you some unwanted charges.
What to do when a random number texts you? ›
Delete and report them using your phone's “report junk” option or forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and unwanted emails to your email provider. Never click links in an unexpected message. Some links might steal your information, or install malware that gives scammers access to your device.
Can someone hack your phone by texting you? ›
You can't get hacked by simply replying to a text. However, engaging with a hacker in any way will make it more likely that you get hacked. They'll find a way to fool you and make you click a link, which is what leads to you getting hacked.
How do I block a scammer from texting me? ›
How to block spam texts on Android:
- On an Android, open your phone app and tap on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner and choose “Settings”.
- Tap on “Block numbers”.
- You will find several options, including unknown callers, recent calls, or from your contact list.
The best way to protect against wrong-number text scams is to ignore them completely. If you do happen to respond to such texts, don't feel tempted to continue the conversation. You've already acted politely, and you shouldn't feel obliged to continue a conversation with a stranger.
What to do if someone texts you by mistake? ›
Let the sender know you're not who they think you are immediately. This is a polite way to tell a stranger they've got the wrong number. Talking to strangers can be dangerous, especially when they're hiding behind a screen. Be cautious when responding to a text from someone you don't know.
How do you deal with the wrong number? ›
Sorry, I think you have the wrong number. May I ask who you are trying to contact? Who are you trying to reach? There's no Mark here.
File a complaint with the FCC if you believe you have received an illegal call or text, or if you think you're the victim of a spoofing scam. Click the tabs below for tips, FAQs and resources. Don't answer calls from unknown numbers.
What are the five area codes you should never answer? ›
Some area codes to be weary of are:
- 268– Antigua and Barbuda.
- 284– British Virgin Islands.
- 473– Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
- 649-Turks and Caicos Islands.
- 767– Commonwealth of Dominica.
- 809– British Virgin Islands.
- 829– Dominican Republic.
- 849– Dominican Republic.
Savvy scammers know that by hijacking your mobile phone number they can assume your identity, intercept security protocols sent to your phone, and gain access to your financial and social media accounts. One way to hijack your phone number is through a porting-out scam.
How to reply to scammer texts? ›
If you receive a text from a stranger, your best move is to ignore it. According to the BBB, if you engage with a scammer, even briefly, they will mark your number as active and you could receive even more shady texts in the future.
What happens if you open a text message from an unknown number? ›
Simply opening a text message is generally safe; it's the actions that may follow, like clicking a malicious link or downloading a malicious attachment, that can introduce a virus or malware to your device.
Is it bad to text a wrong number? ›
The best way to protect against wrong-number text scams is to ignore them completely. If you do happen to respond to such texts, don't feel tempted to continue the conversation. You've already acted politely, and you shouldn't feel obliged to continue a conversation with a stranger.
Can you get scammed through text messages? ›
Text message or SMS phishing—also called “smishing”—occurs when scam artists use deceptive text messages to lure consumers into providing their personal or financial information.
How to identify a fake text message? ›
Here are five ways you can identify a fake text message.
- The text message is irrelevant to you. ...
- Claiming to be someone you know but it's an unknown number. ...
- Displays a sense of urgency. ...
- You're being urged to click on a link. ...
- The text contains misspellings and grammatical errors. ...
- Fake delivery notification texts.
Instead of you receiving these codes, scammers who have your phone number can get them. The consequences can be severe. They could block accounts, send fake messages, or make purchases without your consent. They could also get your financial statements or messages from these accounts.
