Wrong Number Text Scams
Americans lost $470 million to text scams in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Wrong number text scams, a form of social engineering, lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes, contributing to the $4.57 billion lost to investment fraud in 2023 (FBI IC3).
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How It Works
1
A scammer sends a seemingly innocent text message, such as 'Hey, are we still meeting later?' or a simple 'Hello,' from a number you do not recognize. This initial message is intentionally vague to provoke a response from the recipient.
2
When the recipient replies that they have the wrong number, the scammer apologizes but continues the conversation. They use this opportunity to be overly friendly, build rapport, and establish a sense of trust over days or even weeks, sometimes creating a fake romantic interest.
3
After gaining the victim's trust, the scammer pivots the conversation to a fraudulent opportunity, most commonly a high-return cryptocurrency investment. This is a tactic known as "pig butchering," where the victim is "fattened up" with trust before being led to a fake investment platform where their money is stolen.
Red Flags
- You receive a vague message from an unknown number.
- The sender continues the conversation after you state they have the wrong number.
- The conversation quickly becomes overly friendly, personal, or romantic.
- The sender suggests moving the conversation to an encrypted messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram.
- They bring up lucrative cryptocurrency or other investment opportunities and claim they can teach you.
- The sender's profile picture looks like a professional model or they send glamorous photos of a lavish lifestyle.
- They refuse to have a video call or meet in person.
What to Do If Targeted
- Do not respond to the message, even to say 'wrong number.' Replying confirms your number is active.
- Block the phone number immediately to prevent further contact.
- Delete the text message from your phone.
- Never click on any links or download attachments sent from an unknown number.
- Do not share any personal or financial information with someone you have only met via text.
- Forward the unwanted scam text to 7726 (SPAM) to help your wireless carrier block future scam texts.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission to help with law enforcement investigations.
- FBI IC3 — Report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), especially if financial loss occurred.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 880,418 complaints with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion. — FBI IC3 2023 Internet Crime Report
- Losses from investment fraud rose to $4.57 billion in 2023, a 38% increase from the previous year, making it the costliest crime tracked by the IC3. — FBI IC3 2023 Internet Crime Report
- Within investment fraud, losses specifically from crypto-investment scams grew by 53% from 2022, reaching $3.94 billion in 2023. — FBI IC3 2023 Internet Crime Report
- Consumers reported losing $470 million to scams that originated with a text message in 2024, a fivefold increase from 2020. — FTC 2025 Data Spotlight
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Frequently Asked Questions
A wrong number text scam is a fraudulent scheme where a criminal intentionally sends a text to a stranger, pretends it was a mistake, and then builds a relationship with the person who replies. The ultimate goal is to manipulate the victim into a fraudulent investment, often involving cryptocurrency, in a tactic known as 'pig butchering'.
Scammers continue the conversation because their initial text was a deliberate attempt to engage you. By responding, you have confirmed your phone number is active and that you are willing to interact. Their goal is to exploit your politeness to build trust for a future scam, typically a fraudulent investment scheme.
Pig butchering is a long-term fraud, often initiated through a wrong number text, where scammers build a close relationship or romance with a victim. The term refers to the process of 'fattening up the pig' with trust and affection before 'butchering' them by convincing them to invest large sums of money into fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. In 2023, the FBI reported that crypto-investment fraud losses, a common outcome of these scams, rose to $3.94 billion.
No, it is never safe to reply. The best course of action is to not respond at all. Replying, even to be polite, confirms to the scammer that your phone number is active, which can lead to you receiving more scam texts and calls in the future. You should immediately delete the message and block the number.
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