Stay Alert – “Accidental” Texts May Be First Step in a Scam
People accidentally text the wrong number all the time, and you’ve no doubt received texts that were meant for someone else. Unfortunately, wrong-number texts aren’t always innocent mistakes. Scammers send “accidental” texts to catch you off guard and exploit your friendliness and kindness for financial gain.
These types of texts might say something like, “Sorry I’m running late, I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” Or they may reference a medical appointment or business meeting. Not wanting to be rude, you respond to tell the sender they’ve got the wrong number. The scammer then tries to engage you in an ongoing conversation to gain your trust — often the first step in a romance or employment scam. By using AI messaging bots, some scammers are able to target thousands of people at a time.
Here’s what to do if you receive a wrong-number text:
People accidentally text the wrong number all the time, and you’ve no doubt received texts that were meant for someone else. Unfortunately, wrong-number texts aren’t always innocent mistakes. Scammers send “accidental” texts to catch you off guard and exploit your friendliness and kindness for financial gain.
These types of texts might say something like, “Sorry I’m running late, I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” Or they may reference a medical appointment or business meeting. Not wanting to be rude, you respond to tell the sender they’ve got the wrong number. The scammer then tries to engage you in an ongoing conversation to gain your trust — often the first step in a romance or employment scam. By using AI messaging bots, some scammers are able to target thousands of people at a time.
Here’s what to do if you receive a wrong-number text:
- Don’t respond. If you receive a text from an unknown number, ignore it. Responding, even to correct the mistake, can confirm your number is active.
- Block and report. Use your phone’s features to block the number and report the message as spam. This helps prevent others from falling victim.
- Be skeptical of investment opportunities. Be cautious if someone you don’t know starts discussing investments or money-making opportunities. Scammers are skilled at making their offers seem legitimate.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline has recently seen a rise in reports of PayPal scams. Cybercriminals use the payment system’s invoicing tool to send victims fake invoices for large purchases. When the invoices are sent, PayPal sends an official notification email to the recipient, which makes the otherwise fake invoices appear legitimate. The scammers include an official-looking message in the “seller note to customer” section of the fake invoice, encouraging the victim to call a fake customer service line to prevent the charges from being processed.
According to the FTC, people are losing big money to criminals running complicated scams. Here’s how it works: A scammer pretending to be from a company you know contacts you, saying they supposedly spotted fraud on one of your accounts and your money isn’t safe. They connect you with someone else to supposedly help you move your money to “protect” it. The “helper,” who often claims to work for the government, is really a scammer trying to steal your money.
Question: When I’ve called my lost smartphone but can’t hear it ring, what should I do next to find it?
Scammers create websites that look like popular online stores and may offer great deals on popular items in short supply. Once you pay, they’ll either never send you the item, or send you an inferior fake.
