The Better Business Bureau is warning West Tennesseans about a scam that begins with a text that looks like a simple mistake, WBBJ reported Monday, Nov. 2, in a story by Nyana Whitelaw.
How the scam works
The BBB told WBBJ that scammers send friendly texts that appear to be meant for someone else, hoping the recipient will answer. Daniel Irwin of the BBB said that once someone replies, the scammer quickly pivots, often into a romance, fake job or investment conversation. Irwin said these "accidental text" scams have risen almost 100 percent over the past year.
WGAL in Pennsylvania described a typical example on Oct. 30: "Hey your number looks familiar but I can't remember your name." Even a reply such as "you have the wrong number" tells the sender that the number is active, and the conversation continues, according to that report. After a stretch of friendly chat, victims are often steered toward investment schemes, frequently involving cryptocurrency.
Who loses money
WBBJ reported that seniors are more likely than any other group to lose money or personal information, or to get caught up in a romance or job scam, and that artificial intelligence is making the messages harder to spot. A BBB guest column in The Commercial Appeal in April reported that many of these messages are now written by AI chatbots, making them sound natural and personal. The column said the BBB's partners received 64 confirmed reports in Shelby County in a year, with losses of more than $28,000, mostly tied to romance, crypto or investment, or phishing scams.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance warned in February about a version known as "pig butchering," which also starts with a "wrong number" text or voicemail and moves toward cryptocurrency investing. Its listed red flags include out-of-the-blue messages from a wrong number, a relationship built over time with a stranger by text, pressure to invest in crypto, and a quick switch from one platform to another.
What to do
- Do not engage with unknown numbers, even to say "wrong number."
- If you already replied, stop as soon as something seems off. WBBJ reported the BBB's advice that if it is truly a wrong number, the sender will probably figure it out.
- Block the number.
- Report it to your mobile carrier and to the BBB's Scam Tracker.
- Never share personal or financial details with someone you have not met.
To report a pig butchering scam, the state says to contact local law enforcement or the FBI.
Sources: WBBJ, Better Business Bureau, Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, WGAL, The Commercial Appeal