Security risk answering questionable texts
October 25, 2022 12:53 PM Subscribe
I usually ignore texts that seem random from numbers I don't know as I assume they are sent by scammers. Today I got a few messages from a number I don't know. These could be the same spam crap. But if they aren't, the context they are presenting makes me really sad. So, what happens if I reply to tell the this is a wrong number?
They sent an SMS to my actual phone number (vs VoIP number) from a carrier called Enflick which is a VoIP service. They are claiming to be texting some woman and now they are sad that she isn't responding. It's probably a scam but if it's not, I am sad for this person and want them to know this isn't the person they thought they were talking to. But, I don't ever answer these texts because I worry they open me up to a security risk or get me on some list for more spam. What are the potential consequences of answering an unknown text as far as spam/security etc?
They sent an SMS to my actual phone number (vs VoIP number) from a carrier called Enflick which is a VoIP service. They are claiming to be texting some woman and now they are sad that she isn't responding. It's probably a scam but if it's not, I am sad for this person and want them to know this isn't the person they thought they were talking to. But, I don't ever answer these texts because I worry they open me up to a security risk or get me on some list for more spam. What are the potential consequences of answering an unknown text as far as spam/security etc?
Pig Butchering scam. If you really want to reply then you should reply and block the number immediately afterward but they may add you as a target for future scams.
posted by muddgirl at 1:02 PM on October 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by muddgirl at 1:02 PM on October 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
It's almost certainly a scam but I do see plenty of people online responding to these texts with increasingly goofy messages - I don't know that there's much risk in just responding (although you could end up on a "live number" list since they will know someone is actually checking and responding to the texts).
It's my understanding that the scam is usually that the person will ask you to invest in their fraudulent crypto scheme or send them money via Western Union or bail them out of jail with Best Buy cards (obviously do not do this) or try to strike up a longer-term catfish kind of relationship. (On preview, yes, the kind of thing muddgirl links to.)
posted by mskyle at 1:03 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's my understanding that the scam is usually that the person will ask you to invest in their fraudulent crypto scheme or send them money via Western Union or bail them out of jail with Best Buy cards (obviously do not do this) or try to strike up a longer-term catfish kind of relationship. (On preview, yes, the kind of thing muddgirl links to.)
posted by mskyle at 1:03 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
> They are claiming to be texting some woman and now they are sad that she isn't responding.
Three possibilities:
- It's a scam (it is dangerous for you to respond)
- The texter typed in the wrong phone number by accident (there's no danger in responding)
- The woman deliberately gave the texter the wrong phone number (it is dangerous for you to respond)
In two out of the three possibilities, you're putting yourself in danger. And the three possibilities are not equally likely: it is vastly, VASTLY more likely to be a scam than the other two possibilities. Given the sheer number of scammer bots in this world, there's probably a less than 1% chance that you'd be texting someone who has fallen victim to a typo.
And honestly? The level to which your heart is bleeding for someone's possible typo is a little over the top. Don't risk feeding a scammer bot in the effort to rescue someone from the ~calamity~ of having committed a typographical error! Relax. If that is a real person, they are fully capable of dealing without your help.
posted by MiraK at 1:14 PM on October 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Three possibilities:
- It's a scam (it is dangerous for you to respond)
- The texter typed in the wrong phone number by accident (there's no danger in responding)
- The woman deliberately gave the texter the wrong phone number (it is dangerous for you to respond)
In two out of the three possibilities, you're putting yourself in danger. And the three possibilities are not equally likely: it is vastly, VASTLY more likely to be a scam than the other two possibilities. Given the sheer number of scammer bots in this world, there's probably a less than 1% chance that you'd be texting someone who has fallen victim to a typo.
And honestly? The level to which your heart is bleeding for someone's possible typo is a little over the top. Don't risk feeding a scammer bot in the effort to rescue someone from the ~calamity~ of having committed a typographical error! Relax. If that is a real person, they are fully capable of dealing without your help.
posted by MiraK at 1:14 PM on October 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
I got suckered into responding to one of these stupid things & the scamming started immediately. It's really not real.
posted by bleep at 1:16 PM on October 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by bleep at 1:16 PM on October 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Eh, I feel like there's nothing wrong with typing "wrong number" and stopping there. If it's someone who truly has the wrong number, you'll be helping them. If they're a scammer and they come back with anything other than "oops, thanks" you just block them and move along.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:33 PM on October 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:33 PM on October 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yeah, block-and-move-on is the right thing here. What could there possibly be, at the other end of this exchange, that you want to be part of your life?
posted by mhoye at 1:39 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mhoye at 1:39 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I am one of the people who sometimes responds to these with increasingly goofy messages. In this case I'd probably reply with "Sorry, you have the wrong number". I start with the goofy replies when they come back with something like "Oh haha, I must have typed the number wrong, want to get coffee?" or some such. But I don't think you're opening yourself up to drastic consequences just by responding once. They already have your phone number. Just make sure that you don't give them any other information.
posted by number9dream at 1:49 PM on October 25, 2022
posted by number9dream at 1:49 PM on October 25, 2022
I recommend not replying to texts like these. The first message they send us usually to check whether or not you are suspectible to responding. If you do, then they know they can keep spamming you with messages because you'll see/hear/potentially fall for it.
The more lifeless your phone number appears to scammers, the better :)
posted by wandering zinnia at 3:43 PM on October 25, 2022
The more lifeless your phone number appears to scammers, the better :)
posted by wandering zinnia at 3:43 PM on October 25, 2022
It's almost certainly a scam or spam. If you really want to reply, do so and then block the number, but be aware that this will flag your number as 'live' and you will almost certainly see a massive increase in spam. If you don't, I guess you'll know there was a real person at the other end. I'd probably reply with a 'wrong number' then block the number because I'd hate to be at the other end of it.
posted by dg at 4:07 PM on October 25, 2022
posted by dg at 4:07 PM on October 25, 2022
It's unquestionably a scam.
But let's say you do respond. As long as you don't do anything the scammer asks you to do, the only bad thing that's going to happen is they'll know it's an active phone number.
The worst that will happen from that is that you'll potentially get more spam/scam texts and calls. Which you're already getting, we all are.
posted by phunniemee at 4:48 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
But let's say you do respond. As long as you don't do anything the scammer asks you to do, the only bad thing that's going to happen is they'll know it's an active phone number.
The worst that will happen from that is that you'll potentially get more spam/scam texts and calls. Which you're already getting, we all are.
posted by phunniemee at 4:48 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Sorry, but unless/until carriers make it impossible for spammers and scammers to operate successfully (will almost certainly never happen) then anything I don't recognize I block or ignore. I don't know that replying will put you on a list of targets, but really, why take the chance?
Nthing that you should be very suspicious of any message from someone you don't know that plays on your emotions or tries to create a sense of urgency as those are almost certainly scammers. If you're particularly unlucky they could use public or leaked information about you for a spear-phishing attack to make themselves seem more legitimate.
posted by Aleyn at 6:26 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Nthing that you should be very suspicious of any message from someone you don't know that plays on your emotions or tries to create a sense of urgency as those are almost certainly scammers. If you're particularly unlucky they could use public or leaked information about you for a spear-phishing attack to make themselves seem more legitimate.
posted by Aleyn at 6:26 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Don't answer at all.
I'm getting chat attempts even in Chinese, messages like "let's go out to dimsum tomorrow", or allegedly a pretty girl (who even sent an unsolicited "selfie") looking for some random name, or just random greetings, like "long time no see! How's it going?" with just a number, no name or nothing.
I just ignore them all.
posted by kschang at 7:48 PM on October 25, 2022
I'm getting chat attempts even in Chinese, messages like "let's go out to dimsum tomorrow", or allegedly a pretty girl (who even sent an unsolicited "selfie") looking for some random name, or just random greetings, like "long time no see! How's it going?" with just a number, no name or nothing.
I just ignore them all.
posted by kschang at 7:48 PM on October 25, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by praemunire at 12:54 PM on October 25, 2022 [7 favorites]