A text sent to the wrong number may be the start of a scam

A text that looks like it reached you by mistake may be the opening move in a scam. It is called the wrong number scam. The first message might read, "Hey your number looks familiar but I can't remember your name." It seems harmless, and that is the point.

How it works

The trick is the reply. Even a polite "you have the wrong number" tells the scammer your number is active, so the chat continues. A viewer named Gerry told WGAL he did exactly that. The sender, who called herself "Angela," said she hoped her carelessness did not bother him. When he said it was fine, she called him kind and suggested the mistake could make them new friends. After some small talk, she asked for a picture. Gerry saw what was going on and blocked the number.

According to the report, these long chats often end in shady investment schemes, frequently involving cryptocurrency. The friendly talk builds trust first. The money pitch comes later.

What to do

Experts recommend deleting the message and blocking the number. The alert box above lists the steps. If you never reply to texts from unknown numbers, this scam has little to work with. The report does not say how many people have been targeted or how much money has been lost.