Wrong Number Text Scam: What It Is and What to Do

A text from a stranger that seems meant for someone else, like “hello” or “do you want to get a coffee?”, can be the first move in a costly scam, the FTC warns. Answering, even just to say “wrong number,” can lead to a fake friendship or romance and then a pitch to invest, often in cryptocurrency.

The short answer: don’t reply. Report it and delete it, and block the number. Already chatting, or sent money? See the steps below.

What is the wrong number text scam?

It starts with what the FTC calls “an out-of-the-blue message that looks innocent enough,” apparently sent to the wrong person. If you reply, the scammer strikes up a fake friendship, often with romantic undertones. Next, they claim to be a successful investor and steer you to a bogus investment platform. People report losing all the money they “invest,” often tens of thousands of dollars (FTC).

Many of these scams end in fake crypto investments (FTC). They’re often called by the derogatory name “pig butchering.” The FBI calls them confidence-enabled cryptocurrency investment fraud (FBI). See our guide to pig butchering scams. Some wrong number chats lead to other kinds of scams, too.

Anyone can be targeted: the FBI says most victims of these crypto scams are 30 to 60, tech-savvy and actively looking for investments (FBI).

How wrong number text scams work

1. An innocent-looking text from a number not in your contacts, maybe one that seems meant for someone else (FCC). Some scammers pretend they misdialed, or send a photo of themselves (FBI IC3).
2. A friendly chat. If you answer, the scammer will probably apologize and find a way to keep the conversation going to befriend you (FTC). This can go on for weeks or months (FCC).
3. A move to another app. It’s common for the scammer to ask to move the chat to another platform, sometimes from a different phone number (FBI IC3).
4. Friendship or romance. Expect flattery, a life story that mirrors yours, strong romantic interest and last-minute excuses for not meeting (FBI IC3). The FBI also warns about “love bombing”: being quickly showered with praise and attention so you feel trust and intimacy (FBI IC3).
5. The pitch. They say they, or someone in their family, are investment experts who can help you (FBI IC3).
6. Fake profits. They steer you to a website or app they control (FBI IC3). It shows big returns, and you may be allowed to withdraw a small amount early on, so you trust it and invest more (FBI IC3).
7. The trap. When you try to cash out, your account is frozen until you pay “taxes” or “fees.” The scammers never unlock the money (FBI IC3).

Wrong number text scam examples

Official examples from the FTC and FCC:

• First text: “hello” or “do you want to get a coffee?” (FTC); “Hi” or “Can you talk?” (FCC)
• Building trust: “You’re so easy to talk to. I feel like we can talk about anything.” (FCC)
• The pitch: “I’ve been investing in crypto market for years. You should try it. I can help you.” (FCC)

Here’s how a conversation might go. The middle column shows illustrations written for this guide, not real scam texts.

Stage	What it might say (illustration)	What’s going on
First text	“Hey, it’s Dana! Still on for lunch tomorrow?”	A vague message that seems aimed at someone else is a red flag of fraud (SEC).
After you reply	“Oops, wrong number, sorry! You seem so kind, though.”	The apology is how the scammer keeps the conversation going (FTC).
The pitch	“My uncle’s trading app never loses. I made 30% last month.”	“Only scammers will guarantee profits or big returns” (FTC).
The trap	“Your balance is ready, but you must pay a 20% tax to withdraw.”	Having to pay taxes or fees to unlock your money is a red flag (FBI IC3).

Wrong number text scams in 2024 and 2025

• Text scam losses jumped. In 2024, people reported losing $470 million to scams that started with a text, more than five times the 2020 number. Most frauds go unreported, so the real toll is likely higher. “Wrong number” texts were one of the FTC’s top five text scams that year, along with fake package delivery texts (including FedEx and UPS ones) and unpaid toll notices (FTC, April 2025).
• Crypto investment fraud tops the FBI’s list. It was “the highest source of financial losses to Americans in 2025,” with $7.2 billion reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI says these scammers typically make first contact through text messages, social media, ads or dating apps, then quickly move the conversation to a messaging platform (2025 IC3 report). That covers all crypto investment fraud, not just wrong number scams.

Wrong number texts on WhatsApp and other apps

The first message can also arrive as a direct message on social media (FCC). And once you’re chatting, scammers often ask to move to another messaging app (FBI IC3).

The FTC says some investment scammers created WhatsApp groups full of “successful investors” sharing glowing but fake testimonials (FTC, April 2026). In a group chat, others who claim huge profits might be in on the fraud (SEC).

If it came through an app, use the app’s report junk or spam option (FTC) and tell the app where you met the scammer (FTC).

What to do if you get a wrong number text

1. Don’t reply, not even to say “wrong number.” That’s the FTC’s advice for unexpected texts, “wrong number” texts included. It isn’t rude: even a short reply confirms your number works, which could lead to more scam calls and texts (FTC).
2. Don’t tap links in the message. Some links steal your information or install malware (FTC). Already tapped one? See what to do if you clicked a phishing link.
3. Report it. Copy the text and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages (FTC). Also use your messaging app’s “report junk” option, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
4. Block the number. Your phone may let you block numbers or filter messages from unknown senders (FTC).
5. Delete it (FTC).

What if you texted the wrong number?

If you texted a stranger by mistake, the same caution applies. Once it’s clear it’s the wrong number, the FBI’s advice is to stop the conversation. If the stranger keeps chatting, gets flirty or brings up investing, be careful: “If you meet someone online or through an unsolicited text message and that person pitches an investment opportunity, beware,” the FBI says (FBI). Never share account numbers, PINs or passwords (FCC).

Already chatting or sent money? What to do now

If you’ve been chatting but haven’t sent money

1. Stop communicating with the person immediately (FTC).
2. Don’t invest because of their advice, and don’t send money or share personal information (FBI IC3).
3. Talk it over with someone you trust (FCC).
4. Shared personal details? See what a scammer can do with your personal information.

If you sent money or “invested”

1. Stop paying. Don’t pay any more fees or taxes to withdraw your money. The FBI says victims can’t get their money back even if they pay (FBI IC3).
2. Contact the company you used to send the money right away. Tell them it was a scam and ask them to reverse the payment (FTC):
   • Bank transfer or wire: call your bank. With a fraudulent transfer, “time is of the essence,” the FBI says: ask your bank to recall the funds (2025 IC3 report). More: paid a scammer through Zelle.
   • Cryptocurrency: contact the crypto exchange you used (FTC).
   • Gift cards: see paid a scammer with gift cards.
3. Save the evidence before you delete anything. The FBI asks for (FBI IC3, FBI IC3):
   • transaction details: wallet addresses, amount and type of crypto, dates and times, and transaction IDs (hashes);
   • the bank accounts and crypto wallets you sent money to, and the recipients’ names;
   • the scammer’s names, phone numbers and profile names, and the websites or apps they told you to use;
   • screenshots of your texts and chats, and where and how you first met.
4. Report it to IC3 and the FTC (see below). Report even if you don’t have transaction details (FBI IC3).
5. Tell family or friends. It can help protect them from similar scams (FBI).

Asked to hand cash to a courier? The FBI warns that crypto investment scammers do this, usually to older adults. Don’t give out your address or agree to meet (FBI IC3).

Can I get my money back?

• It’s hard, but ask. Your money might be gone already, but the FTC says it’s always worth asking the company you used whether there’s a way to get it back (FTC).
• Crypto usually can’t be reversed. You can usually only get it back if the person you paid sends it back (FTC).
• Speed matters for bank transfers. With full transaction details in your IC3 report, IC3 may be able to help banks and law enforcement freeze funds (2025 IC3 report).

How to report a wrong number text scam

• FBI IC3: file at IC3.gov with the details above. Type www.ic3.gov into your browser yourself; “sponsored” search results are usually paid imitators (FBI IC3). IC3 doesn’t investigate cases, and you won’t hear back from it, so contact local police directly if your case is time-sensitive. Save a copy of your complaint before closing the page (IC3).
• FTC: report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For crypto, the FTC also lists the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the exchange you used (FTC).
• FCC: file a complaint with the number that contacted you, the date and time, and your own number (FCC).
• Local police: file a report (FCC) using the non-emergency number or website (CFPB).
• 60 or older, or helping someone who is? The National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), can help you file an IC3 complaint (FBI IC3, FBI IC3).

The report-a-scam tool lists official channels, and the scam recovery checklist helps you track each step.

Watch for the follow-up scam

Scammers buy, sell and trade lists of people who have already been scammed (FTC). Be on guard if someone:

• offers to trace or recover your crypto for a fee. Fake recovery companies take an up-front fee, then disappear or ask for more. They may claim ties to law enforcement or legal services (FBI IC3).
• says they’re a lawyer working with the government, or that you’re on a government list of scam victims. “There are no law firms which are officially authorized partners of US Government agencies,” the FBI says. These fakes may know your payment amounts and dates, and may add you to a WhatsApp group with phony “bank processors” who demand fees (FBI IC3).
• claims to be from IC3. IC3 never contacts people by phone, email, social media or apps, and never asks for payment to recover lost funds (FBI IC3).

Government agencies and legitimate organizations never ask for money to help you get a refund (FTC). The real FBI does call some people it believes are being scammed, but it says it will never ask for your personal information or money, or ask you to move your assets (FBI).

What varies

• Your bank or exchange. Policies differ, so ask what help yours can offer (2025 IC3 report).
• How you paid. Crypto payments don’t come with the legal protections of credit and debit cards (FTC). For crypto losses, some states have passed laws that might help (FTC).
• Your phone carrier. Forwarding to 7726 works with most carriers; check with yours (FCC).
• Where the money went. Crypto moved to exchanges overseas is harder for U.S. law enforcement to follow (FBI IC3).