A text says “Hi Sarah, are we still on for 7?” You don’t know any Sarah. The polite thing is to reply “wrong number.” That’s what they’re counting on.
After you reply: Oh sorry, wrong number! But you seem nice. I’m Mia, I just moved here.
An invented example, but real scam messages look just like it.
Short answer: Treat it as the opening of a scam. The FBI warns that these misdirected texts become friendly chats that turn into investment pitches, often cryptocurrency, sometimes with a fake romance.
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Red flags in a message like this
- A message meant for someone else, from a number you don’t know
- The chat keeps going after you say “wrong number”
- They get friendly or flirty very quickly
- They suggest moving to WhatsApp or another app
- They bring up money, crypto or an “investment tip”
What the FBI advises
- Don’t respond to unknown text messages.
- Don’t click links, and don’t reply “STOP” even if the message says you can.
- Block the number.
If you already tapped, replied or paid
- Chatting but no money sent: stop replying and block the number.
- Sent money or bought crypto: contact your bank or the platform now, and don’t pay any “fees” to withdraw.
- Installed an app they recommended: stop depositing and report it.
Report it: Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov, forward the text to 7726, and report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Still not sure? Paste it into ScamRead before you reply or pay.