Scammers are reviving the wrong number scam, using text messages to trick people into engaging with them and potentially revealing personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission says as many as 98% of people will open a text message, making it an effective tool for scammers who send random texts to draw recipients in.
A News 8 viewer shared examples of these texts, which began with a message saying, “This is my new number.”
Initially, the viewer thought it was from a friend. As the texts continued, the sender thanked the viewer for being kind, expressed gladness at having met them, and began asking questions about where the viewer lives. The viewer quickly blocked the number.
Another example involved a text claiming the recipient missed a call, attempting to engage their curiosity. Even Brian Roche, News 8’s consumer investigator, received a wrong number text inviting him to go for ribs, which he deleted immediately.
Scammers are increasingly using these “wrong number” message tactics, aided by AI, to trick people into providing access to personal information and financial accounts.
Their goal is to ensure the phone number is active and the recipient is willing to engage.
You may not get a scam text right away, as scammers may add your number to their database for future scams.
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