A message arrives that seems meant for someone else: "Is this Jenny?", "Are we still on for dinner?" It looks like a stranger's error and asks for nothing except a correction. The correction is what they want. A reply tells them the number is live and that a real person is reading.
It is the opening move of the long scams: romance, investment and friendship scams all start this way. The sender sends the same message to thousands of numbers and waits for the polite people to answer.
Telling a stranger they have the wrong number is ordinary good manners, which is exactly why it works. Your reply confirms the number reaches a person, that the person is friendly, and that they will talk to a stranger. From there the sender apologises, thanks you, and keeps the conversation going. That is the first stage of financial grooming.
A conversation that starts with a wrong number can turn into an investment tip, a relationship, or a friendship that later needs money.
Pig butchering
Romance baiting
Financial grooming
Do not reply at all, not even to say wrong number. A reply tells them the number is live. Block the sender and delete the message. If a request follows, check it with Flggd.
Send yourself this page so you can forward it, or read it later when you are not standing in a shop.
Email it to myself
