How to Recognize and Avoid 'Wrong Number' Text Scams
Scammers send seemingly mistaken text messages to start a friendship and later push victims into crypto investments. Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams in 2025.
Technology site Engadget has explained how the "wrong number" scam works. It spreads through text messages and the Telegram messaging app. The scheme begins with a message from an unknown number addressed to someone else. When the recipient politely replies that the number is wrong, the sender thanks them and suggests becoming friends. The scammers are exploiting people's kindness to get at their money.
How the scam develops
If the conversation continues, the scammer asks to move to another app, such as WhatsApp or Telegram. The reasons include centralizing communication, avoiding international SMS fees and splitting tasks among team members. The "friend" then checks in regularly, starting with harmless questions such as whether the person has eaten. Often the chat turns "romantic," and the scammer feigns sympathy when personal losses, such as the death of a spouse, come up.
Scammers send photos, usually claiming to be Asian women who are entrepreneurs in major US cities. Luxury purses or a mention of golfing at a fancy course hint at wealth. After a short time, the talk turns to cryptocurrency investing, with claims that a family member has made a lot of money. Victims are pushed to sign up with a legitimate crypto exchange and are shown screenshots of supposed gains.
What happens when you try to withdraw
The victim buys real crypto and "invests" it on a platform, but the money actually goes to the scammer's wallet. Fake growth figures are displayed, and the victim is urged to invest more, even by taking out a loan or borrowing from friends. When someone tries to withdraw a large amount, they are told to pay taxes and fees, which can only be covered with new deposits. In the end the scammers may insult the victim and cut off contact. Recovering the money is very unlikely.
A second round of fraud may follow. The article's author received a Telegram message from someone posing as a victim, offering a "hacker" who could recover lost funds. Anyone claiming to be a lawyer or detective is likewise trying to steal more.
How to stay safe
Engadget advises being skeptical of everything online and learning to recognize common scam patterns. Anything involving gift cards, and nearly anything involving crypto, should be treated as a scam. It also suggests limiting the personal information you share publicly. On Telegram, blocking messages from non-contacts requires a paid Premium subscription. The best response to a "wrong number" message is not to reply. Messages can be reported as spam on Android and iPhone, or forwarded to 7726 (SPAM) so the mobile carrier can investigate.
