At its worst, the scammer asks for personal information or compromising photos. Thereafter, the texter may attempt to blackmail you into sending them money or more sensitive information. Whatever the method may be, do not respond to any unsolicited messages from phone numbers you do not recognize.
Most people automatically reply back saying “sorry, wrong number," but that is not the end. Once you respond, the schemer knows the number is working and will continue to engage with you. The conversation keeps going as the stranger tries to become a friend.
The agency warns that if you get a message you weren't expecting, and it asks for personal information, don't click any links, and don't respond, instead block the messenger.
THE ANSWER
Yes, some scammers are posing as people who have texted the wrong number. Experts recommend you don't respond to texts from strangers — if nothing else, a scammer will know your phone number is active when you reply.
This is why it has become a primary target for hackers, and, yes, you can be hacked by replying to a text. Hackers have created a number of ways to attack your phone, and in this article, we are going to detail what these are, and how to fight back.
Yes, your phone can be hacked via text messages. Attackers can send you malicious links or attachments in a text message that, once clicked or downloaded, can install malware on your phone. This can result in unauthorized access to your device or data theft.
No. Your phone cannot be hacked by just opening a text message, provided it wasn't hacked earlier. However it can be hacked if that message has a suspicious link on which you click on.
If you get a text from a stranger, the safest thing to do is simply ignore it and don't reply. As BBB warns, if you engage with a scammer even briefly, they'll mark down your phone number as active, which could lead to your receiving even more texts from scammers.
If it doesn't make sense for the conversation to proceed, that's a good place to end the conversation by not responding. They ask you a question, and you respond to that question. Conversation over. They don't need to respond to your response.
The best course of action is to swiftly address the error by automatically assuming the text was meant for someone else. Head it off by directly writing back, “Your text was sent to me by mistake.” This approach sends a clear signal that this type of conversation and behavior is unwanted and unfounded.
Here are a few reasons it's generally a bad idea to answer a call from an unknown number: If the caller is a robocaller, scammer, telemarketer, or pollster, you're tipping them off that they've reached a working number. That could make you a future target for more calls and even get your number sold to others.
“Sorry but you have the wrong number.” Be upfront with the sender to avoid more accidental texts. Let the sender know you're not who they think you are immediately. This is a polite way to tell a stranger they've got the wrong number.
Never reply to a message from an unknown number
If you receive a message from an unknown international number, the first thing to do is block and report that number, unless it's from a friend or family member who is actually abroad.
You might ignore a text or email message that feels unduly confrontive. The sender, noting the lack of response, might clarify. Experience teaches that responding too quickly out of hurt or frustration puts a person in a position of having said something which is later regretted. “Always pause” is a great motto.
Say, for example, the three-day rule. Popularized by the romcom, the three-day dating rule insists that a person wait three full days before contacting a potential suitor. A first-day text or call is too eager, a second-day contact seems planned, but three days is, somehow, the perfect amount of time.
In any relationship, going completely silent and ignoring someone else is unkind, unhealthy, and unproductive and will not yield a positive result for anyone involved.
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) also offers these tips to avoid smishing/vishing: Only answer calls from known numbers. If you answer a call from an unknown number, hang up immediately.
In terms of texting, replying too soon (although great at first) over time can cause the other person to start to see you as less value. This results in the person having less of an urge to text you.
Tell them you're busy.
Set personal boundaries, and when they start blowing up your phone, send them one of these replies: “Hey, I really can't text right now because I'm super busy and can't be distracted, but I'll hit you up later!” “Silencing my phone for a bit because I really need to focus, I'll call you later.”
By hacking into or otherwise gaining access to the SS7 system, an attacker can track a person's location based on mobile phone mast triangulation, read their sent and received text messages, and log, record and listen into their phone calls, simply by using their phone number as an identifier.
The likelihood of you receiving a virus from opening a text is low. It usually takes clicking on an infected link or file to trigger a virus to install onto a device.
But they can't break into your phone's software and modify it through phone calls alone. However, that's really a social engineering attack, rather than a direct phone hack. In real terms, phone calls themselves just don't have the power to spread malware or give hackers access to your device.
Can hackers watch through your camera? If a hacker installs spyware on your phone then there is a good chance they will be able to access your camera and turn it on/off as they please. They may also be able to access any photos or videos you have previously taken.
Ignore texts from strangers. If you receive a text from someone you don't know, simply don't reply. It's the safest route. If you engage with a scammer, even briefly, they will mark your number as active and you could receive even more shady texts in the future.