Why You Should Avoid Replying to Suspicious Texts

A text arrives from an unfamiliar number and appears to have been sent to the wrong person. Replying with a polite “wrong number” may seem harmless, but security researchers say some of these messages are deliberately designed to see who responds.

According to Malwarebytes, a response can confirm that a phone number is active and belongs to someone willing to engage with an unknown sender.

That information can make the number more useful for future scams.

The first message may only be a test

Many scam texts do not begin with suspicious links or requests for money.

Instead, the sender may pretend to be contacting a friend, coworker or acquaintance. If the recipient responds, the scammer may apologize and attempt to continue the conversation.

The goal can be to determine whether the number is active before moving to another type of fraud. Longer conversations may eventually lead to fake investment opportunities, cryptocurrency schemes, job scams or phishing attempts.

Malwarebytes estimates that confirmed active phone numbers may be more valuable on underground markets than unverified lists of numbers. Its article suggests a responsive number could be valued at roughly 50 cents to $2, although those figures are estimates rather than fixed market prices.

The important point is not the exact dollar amount. A reply provides scammers with useful information: someone is paying attention to that number.

What to do instead

If a message from an unknown sender looks suspicious, it is generally safer not to respond.

Avoid clicking unexpected links or sharing personal information. If the message claims to come from a bank, delivery service or other organization, contact that organization independently using its official website or app.

Suspicious texts can also be blocked and reported through most phones and messaging services.

Not every wrong-number message is a scam. Mistakes happen. But when an unexpected text seems unusual, ignoring it is often safer than continuing the conversation.

Sometimes the safest response is no response at all.