Almost every mobile phone user has faced or at least heard about the phone’s wrong number scams. Americans, for instance, receive more than 3 billion spam calls every month, which continues to increase yearly. Wrong number scam is a new trend and something to be aware of. However, before learning to protect ourselves from them, we must understand what we face. So, let’s learn about them in more detail. As the saying goes, it’s essential to know what your enemy looks like.
Identifying a Wrong Number Scam
How can you tell that a text from the wrong number is a fraud? Sometimes, people mistype a phone number and reach the wrong person. In this case, accepting the apology and ending the call is fine. However, if a phone call that starts with “Excuse me, I dialed the wrong number” turns into “Let’s discuss a great offer” or “I need your name and address to send you something”, it is 100% a scam.
Here are some hints that can help you understand that you should not share any information with the caller and better report the fake wrong number text to the authorities:
- The caller claims they dialed the wrong number but is keen on continuing the call, no matter what. They ask you questions about your life, friends, and family and try to prolong the conversation by any means.
- The caller tries to insist on something, pushes you to act, and sets limits. Their main aim is to prevent you from having time to think or consult with someone. We will discuss this aspect in more detail later.
- Wrong number scams sent as messages often contain grammar and spelling errors, and no one knows why. It may be because literate people hardly ever become scammers.
The best advice we can give to avoid becoming a victim of a wrong number scam is to ignore such messages and calls unless you are expecting a courier or delivery.
Tactics Wrong Number Message Scams Use
Wrong number message scams use several tactics, and if you learn to identify them in time, you can easily detect the dangerous messages and avoid becoming a victim.
Get Your Trust
No scam happens without trust. Fraudsters can behave very kindly and helpfully, insist on getting to know you better and share stories from their lives and childhoods (probably not real ones). The key point is that many fraudsters learn to trick people over the years and become real professionals at earning trust. You may share your personal information and bank details with them before you understand what is happening. That is why we recommend thoroughly avoiding engaging in conversations with unknown numbers.
Burn Your Interest
Wrong number text scams do not work if you are not interested in them. That is why scammers often try to pique their victims’ interest by offering lotteries, prizes, free trips, etc. The golden rule here is to remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Moreover, scammers are great psychologists and know how to manipulate people and their feelings, so you should be extremely careful.
Access Your Data or Money
What is the aim of any wrong number message scam? To get your money or information that would help them access your money. As we have already mentioned, scammers are great manipulators, so you should have a tick in your head: “Do not share money or personal credentials, do not share money or personal credentials”. Of course, it is better not to have conversations with strangers on the phone, but if it happens, be extremely careful.
How Not to Become a Victim of Wrong Number Scams
We have prepared several recommendations for avoiding becoming a victim of wrong number scams. They might seem obvious at first, but in a critical situation, when a scammer pushes you, you may forget about them. Open our blog in such situations to have all those hints in front of you.
Protect Your Personal Details
One of the main ways to avoid wrong number scams is to have a rule: Never, ever, in any situation, share your personal details with anyone. No matter if it is over the phone, on social media, or with strangers on the street. Your personal data provides access to your banking information, accounts, carrier account, and sometimes even e-mail. Thus, protect it like the apple of your eye.
Prefer Video Chats and Calls Over Messages
Fake wrong number text scams are designed to work via text messages. Scammers need time to think and adapt their strategy based on how the conversation goes. Considering this, if you suggest they call via phone or video chat, they will refuse and start inventing explanations, trying to convince you that text is the best form of communication. Refusing to call should be a red flag for you.
Be Careful with Strangers
“Do not trust strangers” is a golden rule in case of wrong number text scams. No matter how charismatic and commanding they are, always remember they are still strangers – unknown people to you. They have nothing in common with you, and there is no single reason to share your personal information with them.
Protect Yourself from Wrong Number Scams with GEOfinder
A cell phone number locator can be used as an ultimate protection layer. GEOfinder is a great example of such an app. Its reverse phone number lookup feature can help you identify wrong number scams. The way it operates is straightforward and accessible for everyone: paste the suspicious phone number into the search bar on the website and get all the information you need. GEOfinder phone GPS tracker can help you even if the scammer is located in another country, as it works worldwide and with all carriers.
What to Do If You Become a Victim of Fake Wrong Number Scams
Many people who become victims of text and phone scams keep asking: “Why do I keep getting the wrong number texts that turn out to be scams?” Well, your phone number has probably leaked somewhere or was sold on the black market (unfortunately, this often happens when numbers or email addresses are compromised on the internet). What can you do in such a situation?
- Secure all your accounts: Change passwords and unlink the compromised phone number so fraudsters cannot restore or reset the password.
- Report the scam: Contact your carrier and local authorities. If you have already lost money, you should also inform the police.
- Monitor the use of your identity: Many fraudsters target personal information, so be ready for someone to attack you after a fake wrong number scam occurs.
- Inform others: Share information about scams with your community and post about them on thematic websites and forums so that other people do not suffer from the same scams.
As we mentioned forums and community resources, it is also a good idea to check all the unknown numbers from which you get calls and messages on local forums; someone may have already faced the same problems.
Conclusion
Wrong number scams are something that many people suffer from nowadays. They are dangerous because victims may not only lose money but also have their identities stolen. It can later be used in other scam schemes, and the real identity owner could face problems. If you receive a text from a wrong number, you should always check it online, use the GEOfinder phone GPS tracker to gather more information, and be prepared if it is a scam.
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