You already know to be wary of suspicious-looking text messages, but what happens if a text arrives from someone who appears to have contacted you by mistake? Though you may be tempted to respond, experts say to stay clear and for good reason—this is a scam. Criminals concoct these wrong-number scams to prey on the kindness of strangers who are simply looking to help. Wondering exactly how this scheme works? Find out more about the warning signs below and what you should do if you receive one of these texts.
What are wrong number text scams?
These out-of-the-blue texts seem innocent enough and often start with a question or comment that appears like it was meant for a close friend. “Let’s plan on dinner tomorrow if that works for you,” one scammer sent a Reddit user.
You may also get an unexpected text about an appointment confirmation, airport pickup, family gathering or another situation that seems like it requires a quick response. In some cases, the sender will outright say something like, “This is Ana. Is this Amy’s phone?”
Knowing the message wasn’t intended for you, you’ll quickly respond to alert the sender that they have the wrong number. While you thought you were just doing the right thing, the scammer now sees you as someone to target.
How does this scam actually work?
In the case of this scam, you’ll receive a text message or voicemail from a stranger–and often there is some kind of urgency involved. They may say they have your medical test results and need you to call back or they need a ride right away. This is designed to get you to reply right away in order to let the texter know you’re not the intended recipient.
Other scammers take a different approach, sounding casual and friendly—as if they’re chatting with an old friend.
“When you see a call from an official-looking number—or one with an area code that matches yours—it’s easy to assume that you know the person or have interacted with that person or business,” explains Serena Sullivan, PhD, associate professor of cybersecurity at National University. But it doesn’t take long for you to figure out this person is a stranger.
Once you respond to tell them they have the wrong phone number, the fraudster will apologize, but the conversation won’t end there.
“Any ‘wrong number’ text followed by more than one or two more messages, regardless of the exact content, is a lead up to a scam,” commented someone on Reddit. “A real person who actually texts a wrong number and is informed of such would, at most, respond with something like ‘thanks,’ and that would be the end of it.”
These chats are typically designed to help the scammer form a one-sided friendship or romantic relationship with their victim. That trust over time can lead to serious financial scams—including what’s known as pig butchering, where scammers build a relationship over weeks or months before convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes or other fraudulent opportunities.
What’s the best way to handle a suspicious wrong number text?
If you receive one of these texts, you have the power to shut it down immediately. Here’s exactly what to do:
“Next time you see a number text you that you are unfamiliar with, texting you as if they know you, be sure to block and report the number as spam—never respond to a text message that seems overly familiar,” advises Sullivan. “If you respond to the unsolicited text, your phone number will be recorded in the database so the [scammers] can attempt to text you again at a later date in the hopes you will fall for the scam later.”
But if you did reply to the original message–don’t panic. Since the wrong number scam is usually the start of a longer scheme, a simple reply won’t have lasting consequences.
“As long as you didn’t provide any personal information, you should be fine,” assured one Reddit user. “You’ll [just] get flooded with these texts and calls for the next couple of weeks.”
If you are still in contact with the original sender and it’s not someone you actually know, cease all communication right away. Though the person may seem trustworthy, you can assume that they will eventually try to get money from you. Putting an end to your online correspondence ensures they don’t stand a chance.
Red flags that signal a wrong number scam
Wrong number scams are not always the easiest to spot, but knowing the patterns they usually follow can help you identify when you’re being targeted.
Common red flags you may see:
- Being overly friendly about the “mistake”
- Sudden compliments
- Messages that feel generic
- Guilt or pressure if you don’t respond or pull away
Any of these can indicate the start of a scam! If you spot any of these red flags, you’ll know exactly what to do: delete, block and move on with confidence.
