"Wrong number" texts: who is really texting?
"Hi, is this Emma? Are we still on for Friday?" Sometimes it is a mistake. Very often it is the start of a scam, run partly by bots.
How the scam starts
- A friendly text meant for "someone else", often with a name and a plan.
- You reply to be kind: "sorry, wrong number".
- They apologise warmly and keep chatting: where are you from, what do you do?
- Days or weeks later: a great investment, a crypto app, a request for help with money.
Your reply alone tells them the number is live and that you're polite. That's worth something to them.
Signs it isn't a real mistake
- A real person who texted the wrong number says sorry and stops. A scammer is delighted to keep talking.
- A profile photo that looks like a model or a stock image.
- Fast, polished, upbeat replies at any hour.
- Moving the chat to WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Talk of trading, crypto, a rich uncle, or a "mentor".
What to do
- Don't reply. If you already did, don't continue.
- Block the number and report it as junk in your messages app.
- In the US and the UK you can forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
- Never send money or install an app because of a stranger's text.
Practise telling people from bots →
Questions
Is it a bot or a person?
Often both: automated messages start thousands of chats, and people (sometimes helped by AI) take over the ones that reply.
Is it rude not to answer?
No. A real person who texted the wrong number will work it out.