Phishing & Smishing
Wrong Number Text Scam
A "friendly" wrong number text that leads to ongoing conversation, building rapport before eventually requesting money or pushing investment scams.
Reported Losses
Often leads to pig butchering scams ($4.6B in 2024)
Primary Targets
Lonely individuals, anyone with a phone
Last Updated
2026-01-06
Also Known As
Accidental Text Scam
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
You receive a text that appears to be sent to the wrong number:
"Hey! Are we still meeting for coffee tomorrow?" "Hi Lisa! Just confirming dinner at 7." "Is this John? I got your number from a friend."
**If you respond:** The scammer engages you in friendly conversation. They're attractive, successful, and surprisingly interested in talking to you despite the "wrong number."
**Where it leads:** - Romance scam: They develop feelings for you, then have an "emergency" - Pig butchering: They introduce you to cryptocurrency "investing" - Friendship scam: They eventually need help with money
**Why respond to wrong numbers?** It casts a wide net. Out of thousands of texts, some people will respond. Some will be lonely and enjoy the attention.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Text appears to be for someone else
- ⚠️After you reply, they're very interested in continuing the conversation
- ⚠️They quickly move to WhatsApp or another platform
- ⚠️They're attractive and successful (shared photos)
- ⚠️Conversation eventually turns to crypto or investing
- ⚠️They develop romantic feelings unusually quickly
- ⚠️They eventually have a "crisis" and need money
📝 Real Victim Account
"I got a text saying 'Hey Mike, great meeting you at the conference!' I said wrong number. She apologized but said 'since we're connected, maybe it's fate!' She was beautiful and we texted for weeks. Then she showed me her crypto portfolio. I lost $40,000 before I realized the 'wrong number' was completely planned."
— FBI IC3 Report
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Simply don't respond to wrong number texts
- 2If you do respond, end the conversation after clarifying the mistake
- 3Be suspicious if they want to keep chatting
- 4Never send money to someone you've only met online
- 5Reverse image search any photos they send
- 6Be aware this is often the start of larger scams
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Stop all communication immediately
- 2Block the number
- 3If you sent money, report to your bank
- 4If you shared personal info, monitor your credit
- 5Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- 6Report the number as spam to your carrier (forward to 7726)
🔗 Related Scams
📚 Sources & References
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