Beware the mistaken identity “wrong number” text message scam

There has been an uptick of “mistaken identity” text scams spreading whereas scammers – posing as attractive members of the opposite sex – pretend to mistakenly text victims flirty messages in a bid to strike up a conversation with them and ultimately scam them.

Imagine the scenario…

1. Girl texts flirty SMS message but it gets sent to wrong phone number.
2. Boy receives flirty text message and lets girl know they have wrong number.
3. Girl apologises but the pair strike up a conversation regardless, fall in love and live happily ever after. All thanks to a text sent to a wrong number.

It may seem to good to be true. And that’s because it is. If you do receive such a text message, you haven’t fallen into the plot of a romantic movie. “Girl” is actually a scammer, and “Boy” is the target.

After “Girl” sends flirty message, Boy sends a message back letting “Girl” know they have the wrong number – and in doing so – not only confirms their phone number is active, but lets “Girl” (scammer) know Boy is a potential target.

Despite some claims on social media, this isn’t anything to do with sex trafficking, but it is still a scam as we describe below.

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One popular example is the “We met on a dating website” version (we discuss this variant specifically here) where the “Girl” claims to have met Boy on a dating website. For example –

Heya are you Greyson? Its Manda, we matched on plentyoffish before when I came to come see my aunt but we didn’t meet 4 lunch,, im back in the area right now if u wanted to actually go out this time, are you available?

Alternatively “Girl” may just send a generic flirty message like the one below –

What’s up I was daydreaming about you earlier today and thought we should catch up! I’ll send a pic- I’ve changed a lot since last time!

Or the message could up the tempo in its suggestiveness as seen here.

Are you available again tonight? I have a couple of surprises for you 😉

Or again like this…

Hey Hon I miss u! Want to do it again tmrw?

There are many “starter” text messages that Boy (or indeed anyone) should be on the lookout for, but the common theme here is that it appears to be sent by a girl who apparently thinks Boy is someone else.

And if Boy responds – most likely to let “Girl” know they have the wrong number – the aim for “Girl” now is to further the interest of Boy. This no doubt involves more flirtatious messages, and yes, probably a photo or two showing attractive “Girl”. (Of course these photos will be stolen from large pool of attractive female headshots on the Internet.)

The above examples show some of the ways the scammers try to continue with the flirty exchange.

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So what’s the end game?

Firstly, despite some recent claims on social media, this is not anything to do with a sex trafficking ring.

These text messages are mostly associated with schemes designed to entice males to adult dating/hookup/pornography websites, which explains why with the majority of these scams the scammer has been playing the role of “Girl” and not the other way around.

But of course it is hardly outside the realms of possibility that other scammers – namely romance scammers looking to fleece victims out of money – could jump aboard the “mistaken identity” ruse to target victims.

While we don’t want to dampen any budding online love romance between two strangers, the advice here is the same as with so many online scams. Don’t trust people you’ve only met online, or indeed in this case through SMS. They could be anyone.

And if they’re asking you to sign up to suspect websites, hand over personal information or send money, then maybe (and by ‘maybe’ we mean ‘almost certainly’) this isn’t the true love cyber-story you hoped it may be after all.