Think You'd Never Fall for a Scam Text? Think Again
Have you received any crazy texts lately?
For example, a text from an unknown number shows up with words like: “Can you please move your car so I can park?”
Or, “You still around? Come on over.”
Or, “Are we still meeting for lunch?”
Or simply, “Busy?”
These are just a few of the texts that are common in “wrong number scams.”
These scams are not entirely new, but they are seeing exploding growth in 2026 with AI-enhanced tools used by bad actors. The hooks have also been called “pig butchering scams” or “romance baiting scams” or “relationship investment scams” and other names.
Many of these scams have been highlighted over the past several years by multiple publications, and in this blog I want to dive deeper into what’s going on and how to respond — or not. As we head into October Cybersecurity Awareness Month for 2026, how can we get smarter, and help others not fall for these scams?
WHY CRAZY TEXTS WORK
So what do these people want? Why are these domestic and international criminals using these techniques and how are they benefiting?
The goal is not to get a car moved or whatever else they propose in the first text, but rather to trick you into responding so they can start a conversation. From there, they want to build rapport and eventually steal your money or personal information, or possibly trick someone into meeting in person.
How the Scam Works
- The Hook: The scammer sends a text that sounds urgent, polite or highly specific (e.g., “Can you move your car?” or “Are we still meeting for lunch?”) They intentionally use a scenario that prompts a helpful person to reply, “Sorry, you have the wrong number.”
- The Pivot: Once you reply to correct them, the scammer will apologize politely. They will then try to keep the conversation going by saying something like, “You seem very nice, my name is Lydia, where are you from?”
- The Long Game: Over days or weeks, they build a fake friendship or romantic interest.
- The Trap: Once they have your trust, they will steer the conversation toward a “financial opportunity.” This “opportunity” may involve cryptocurrency, fake investment platforms or a sudden personal emergency for which they need money.
What You Should Do
- Do not reply: Even writing back “wrong number” confirms to the scammers that your phone number is active and owned by a real person. This will likely lead to you receiving significantly more spam and scam texts in the future.
- Block the number: Immediately block the contact on your phone to prevent further messages.
- Report the text: Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your mobile carrier, or report it directly through your phone’s built-in spam reporting feature.
One important aspect of these scams (and why they are sometimes called “pig butchering”) is that it can take months for the scammers to gain your trust. They are “fattening” a person for the eventual ask — which will likely cost you money.
So the initial conversations may seem interesting and even fun and not dangerous. Remember, the person on the other end is most often not who they are pretending to be.
MORE EXAMPLES
There are plenty of articles and blogs with lists of more helpful examples. Many of these are funny and interesting to see what happens when someone plays along with the scam. (Note: I am not recommending this for readers, but here are some funny examples from Bored Panda and BuzzFeed.)
Here are some of the other scam texts I’ve seen:
- “Hello, I found this contact saved under my assistant’s old notes, but the name tag was blank. May I ask who I am speaking with?”
- “Did anything interesting or magical happen to you today?”
- “Hey (your name), are we still meeting for the golf game/spa appointment this Thursday?”
- (After you respond with “wrong number”) “Oh, I am so deeply sorry for disturbing you! My clumsy fingers must have dialed the wrong digits. I hope my mistake didn’t cause you any inconvenience?” Or, “Oh! My sincere apologies. But you know what they say, sometimes the wrong numbers lead to the right people. Since we’re already chatting, where are you from?”
MORE HELPFUL TIPS
There are many excellent articles that dive into more examples and helpful tips. Here are a few that I recommend with short excerpts:
PC Magazine — Stop Replying ‘Stop’: The Danger of Responding to Spam Texts (And How to Block Them for Good): “Tired of spam texts? Your phone comes with built-in protection against them, but it might be turned off by default. Here’s how to change that on both iPhone and Android.”
AARP— Scammers Use Financial Grooming, Known as ‘Pig Butchering,’ to Steal Victims’ Savings: “Her name, she said, was Jessie. Dennis Jones, 82, met her on Facebook. The divorced, beloved grandfather and father had chatted online with Jessie for months, and he felt close to her, even though they’d never met in person. On a family vacation, he revealed to his son and daughter that he was exploring a major cryptocurrency investment opportunity. But the investment, and the friendship, were frauds. Jones invested his life savings — and Jessie still pressed him for more money. He was financially ruined. Soon after, a distraught Jones died by suicide.”
PC Magazine — Is That Your Delivery Driver Calling or a Phone Scam? Don’t Pick Up Until You Read This: “Your voicemail inbox is the most valuable resource you have to fight scam and spam calls. I recommend not setting up an inbox greeting (or erasing it if you already have one) so that the callers aren’t sure if the number they’ve reached is owned by a human.
“If you receive a call from an unknown caller or a business you don’t recognize, let the call go to your voicemail. If the person had a genuine reason to call you, they’ll leave you a message. After the caller leaves a message, listen to it and block the number if necessary.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Many people, especially in technology and security career fields, quickly dismiss these scams and think: “I’ll never fall for those texts, emails or fake videos!”
However, AI and deepfakes are truly changing the scams in new, realistic ways. The bad actors, with enhanced tools, are getting much better at anticipating response scenarios.
Bottom line, we all need to be constant learners and stay vigilant and on the lookout for scams. Also, share these trends, tips and other related information with others. This October, ask yourself: Who do I know (including work colleagues, family and friends) who can benefit by learning more about these texting and other online scams? After raising the alarm, offer solutions to help.
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