The "wrong number" text scam
A friendly text from a stranger can be the start of an investment scam. The FTC says don't reply at all, not even to say it's the wrong number.1
Text Message
Today 9:41 AM
hi, how are you?1
do you want to get a coffee?2
Sorry, wrong number.
Oh, sorry to bother you! You seem kind though, can we keep chatting?3
- A greeting from a number you don't know. The FTC calls it a conversation starter.1
- An innocent-looking opener. The FTC quotes this one from 2024 reports.2
- After you correct them, they apologize and keep the conversation going, to befriend you.1
What to do Don't reply. Delete it and report it with "report junk", or forward it to 7726.1
The first two lines are openers the FTC quotes. Checked 28 October 2026 against the sources.
Where the chat goes
"Wrong number" texts were one of the five most reported text scams to the FTC in 2024. Victims often lost tens of thousands of dollars.2
- The apology.The sender says sorry and finds a way to keep talking.1
- The friendship.Chat turns into a fake friendship, often with romantic undertones.2
- The pitch.They offer crypto investment advice, or to teach you "the secrets to making big money in the crypto markets", for a fee.1
- The platform.You're asked to invest on a bogus platform.2 The rest of this story is on our crypto romance scam page.
Why not reply, even to be polite
A reply confirms your number
Even "you have the wrong number" tells the sender they reached a working phone, which can lead to more calls and texts from scammers.1
Silence is the safe answer.
If money already left your account
How you paid decides who to call first. Call today.4
| You paid by | Contact right away |
|---|---|
| Credit or debit card | Your card issuer or bank, on the number on the card, and ask for a refund. |
| Bank transfer or Zelle | Your bank or credit union. Ask them to reverse the payment. |
| Payment app | The app. Report the payment and ask for a reversal. |
| Gift card | The card's issuer, on the number on the card. Keep the card and the receipt. |
| Wire transfer | The wire transfer company. Say it was a scam and ask for a refund. |
| Cryptocurrency | The exchange or crypto ATM operator, then the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. |
Questions people ask
Should I reply "wrong number"?
No. The FTC says not to reply to texts from unknown numbers, because any answer confirms the number works.1
How do I report a "wrong number" text?
Use your phone's "report junk" option or forward it to 7726, then delete it.1 See how to report a scam for the rest.
More scam examples
- Unpaid toll textA small toll, a late fee and a link.
- USPS package textA delivery problem and a redelivery fee.
- How to report a scamWhere each kind of scam goes, in the US and the UK.
- Job offer text and task scamEasy pay, then a deposit to get paid.
- Fake Geek Squad renewal emailHundreds of dollars, call within 24 hours.
- PayPal invoice scamAn invoice you never ordered, sent through PayPal.
- Fake bank fraud alert"Reply YES or NO", then a call.
- IRS scam texts and emailsA refund you weren't expecting, or a threat.
- Amazon scam texts and emailsA purchase or account problem that isn't real.
- Crypto romance scamA new friend with a trading app.
- All nine examplesThe home page, with every scam side by side.
Sources 4
- Why it's not rude to ignore "hi, how are you?" text messages from strangers (3 June 2024), Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. Read 28 October 2026.
- Top text scams of 2024 (Data Spotlight, 14 April 2025), Federal Trade Commission. Read 28 October 2026.
- What To Know About Romance Scams (August 2022), Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. Read 28 October 2026.
- What To Do if You Were Scammed (June 2026), Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. Read 28 October 2026.
Every example is rebuilt from an official alert and made safe, and every source shows the day we read it. How we check