While agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) work to eliminate caller ID spoofing, robocalling, and other tactics favored by con artists, wrong-number text scams are finding success without the help of these technology-based methods. These scammers simply pretend that reaching their target was an innocent mistake, and they use this cover to rob their targets blind.
Americans are inundated with text message scams, with an average of over 10 billion spam and scam texts per month in the first half of 2023. Wrong-number text scams are just one type, but they’re an especially sneaky iteration of a constantly growing threat.
Read ahead and learn how to identify and protect yourself from wrong-number text scams.
Wrong-number text scams share some similarities with other types of text scams, but they take a slightly different approach. By understanding the process and the intentions of the scammer, you’re less likely to fall for their tricks.
Although the details may vary, here’s the general framework of a wrong-number scam:
Wrong-number text scams may follow a common layout, but there are various ways scammers can bring the above steps to life. This type of scam generally presents targets with an opportunity (often financial or romantic) or appeals to their sense of community and good nature.
Scammers who employ the “wrong number” tactic often try to coerce their targets into investing in some kind of fake opportunity that might sound — and always is — too good to be true. Many of these scams involve cryptocurrency, which is a buzzword that the average person associates with money but may not truly understand, leaving plenty of room for deception. Once the victim has invested their money, there’s no way to get it back.
In other cases, scammers may try to get to your wallet through your heart. Some wrong-number text scammers aim to entice their potential victims into a fake romantic relationship using fabricated personas, stolen photographs, and artificial voices. Romance scams might trick targets into sending gifts or transferring money, and in some cases they might solicit compromising photos that they can use as blackmail.
Sometimes wrong-number texts create serious (but fake) situations, possibly involving a sick family member or a missing pet. Scammers bank on their distress being enough to encourage the target to try to help, even though they don’t know the person. With their guard down, the target might reveal seemingly harmless personal details that the scammer can use to steal from them.
Many phone scams use tactics like caller ID spoofing and fake outstanding balances to create a sense of authority as well as urgency, but others operate a little differently. Wrong-number text scams tend to take a friendlier approach, and the criminals behind them may be surprisingly patient.
These are a few tactics and techniques that wrong-number text scammers might use:
The tactics may be different, but the ultimate goal is the same: to acquire any sensitive information the scammer can use to steal something of value.
Like other phone scams, wrong-number text scams generally include certain red flags that can tip you off to the ploy. The better you are at recognizing these scams, the less dangerous they are when you face them.
Text message scams generally include some combination of warning signs, though they’re not always easy to spot.
Watch out for these red flags in your text message inbox:
While these signs don’t necessarily guarantee a scam, it’s helpful to keep them in mind when you’re assessing whether or not a message is suspicious.
Wrong-number text scams attempt to get you involved in a conversation, usually opening with an innocent greeting or question that appears to be intended for someone else.
For example:
In each case, it appears that the sender is trying to deliver an important message to someone. Their goal is to manipulate you into letting them know they have the “wrong number” so they can thank you for your help and start an entirely different conversation. Unfortunately, that conversation always ends in attempted fraud.
Getting a suspicious text can be unnerving, but if you know how to handle the situation, you can get out of it without losing your assets, money, or identity. Learning how to identify a fake text message will help you keep your composure and put your mind at ease.
If you receive a suspicious text, follow these tips:
If you’ve given away personal information:
Knowing how to handle phone scams like wrong-number texts can prevent you from falling victim to their consequences. However, education and awareness can only go so far — you’ll need a third-party scam-blocking app to round out your defenses and secure your peace of mind. A strong spam blocker like Robokiller shuts down spam calls and texts before they can even reach your phone.
There are many spam and scam blockers on the market, but one stands out from the rest as the most comprehensive and effective solution to phone scams: Robokiller.
Here are just a few of the top highlights from Robokiller’s impressive resume:
Experience these benefits and start living life spam-call-free™ when you start your free 7-day trial of Robokiller.
A wrong-number text scam is any scam in which it seems like someone has accidentally texted you instead of the person they meant to reach out to, generally with a basic greeting or reminder about fake plans. Through patience and social engineering, the scammer ultimately tries to steal personal data like your Social Security number, credit card information, or other sensitive details.
Wrong-number text scams start off with harmless messages that are meant to get the target to respond with something like “Sorry, wrong number.” After apologizing, the scammer will strike up a conversation that may last for days, weeks, or even months before they pitch their scheme. Eventually, they will try to get you to invest in their fake cryptocurrency “opportunity” or otherwise solicit private information they can use to steal from you.
There are many ways your phone number might fall into the wrong hands, especially if you list it on your website, within your social media profiles, or elsewhere online. Even if you’re careful with your number, however, scammers might choose your 10 digits at random. No matter how scammers get hold of your phone number, responding to them can be dangerous.
Simply put, no. Even a simple response to a seemingly innocuous text message can be dangerous, as it proves to the scammer that your number is in use. That means your number is valuable to them, as they can sell it on the dark web or use it to continue trying to scam you in the future, keeping you an active target indefinitely.
