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What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

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Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#141

Post by nicoburns »

noveltyaccount wrote: post #131

Related. I listed something for sale on Craigslist recently and got a bunch of messages right away that asked obvious questions that were in the listing. One suggested that his wife pick it up, and can I take Zelle? Went silent when I said cash only. But the most interesting scammer said: "for my safety, can I send you a 6-digit number, and you confirm it, so I know the listing is not fake?" I say yes, unsure what th…

I got a similar scam via instagram DMs recently. They claimed to need me to confirm a code so that they could log in, but actually just triggered my own password reset. Message sent from an actual friend's account (which they had presumably successfully scammed) too.

Certainly made me think about how password reset emails are worded!

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#142

Post by narag »

idiotsecant wrote: post #4
johnklos wrote: post #2

Simple: it's time to stop using phone numbers. I use Apple's Messages. If someone spams me, I report them. They're blocked and have to go through the extra work of setting up a new account to try again. Compare this with, say, Google. Gmail lets spammers / scammers have limitless accounts and they don't do shit when an account is reported for spam. You can block and report Gmail spammers all day long and you'll get n…

I don't want one company to be the arbiter of all communications everywhere. Phone numbers work fine.

I don't want one company to be the arbiter of all communications everywhere. Phone numbers work fine.

For me too and if there is an application that allows to block numbers, spam is not a problem.

Now I use the Google builtin caller app antispam function. Most of the spam numbers have already been marked as such by somebody else. Even if that didn't exist I could just block the number after the fact and no more calls or SMSs.

I'd rather program that myself than relying the functionality to Google, I hope Pine or some other programmable phone gets to a usable state some day. But as of now, it's good enough.

Edit: I'm in Spain, not sure if that works the same in the USA.

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#144

Post by hyperdimension »

tornato7 wrote: post #127
RajT88 wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did this with some 419 scammers, and led them on a merry chase. I documented it in a private web forum, which entertained my friends for weeks. I had created this persona which was just too good to be true: A bank manager who was getting ready to run off with his mistress, and trying to secure a future for themselves with a quick payout. This fake persona was a total maniac. At the end, the scammers were super piss…

Some years ago I was selling an expensive aquarium on Craigslist, a scammer ‘paid’ me with a fake PayPal payment before asking to come pick it up. So I convinced him that I was the manager of a Red Lobster restaurant and it was an old lobster tank that we were selling. I told him to show up during business hours and tell the manager he’s there to pick up the lobster tank. The next day I got some ‘on my way’ texts and…

How did you know the PayPal payment was fake? Was it an edited screenshot, or did they actually spoof a 'you received money' email from PayPal?

I ask just on the off-chance that you got a seeming-real email from the real PayPal, and I'd like to know what to look for if so.

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#145

Post by spc476 »

Two weeks ago I received an email saying I had funds in Bitcoin and I could cash out, with login details for a website account [1]. I knew this must be a scam, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out the angle. Now I'm thinking it's a similar type of scam.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_flb9tGuc

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#146

Post by ilololed »

noveltyaccount wrote: post #131

Related. I listed something for sale on Craigslist recently and got a bunch of messages right away that asked obvious questions that were in the listing. One suggested that his wife pick it up, and can I take Zelle? Went silent when I said cash only. But the most interesting scammer said: "for my safety, can I send you a 6-digit number, and you confirm it, so I know the listing is not fake?" I say yes, unsure what th…

So, how many fake 6-digit codes did you give them before they caught on?

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#147

Post by ilololed »

guestbest wrote: post #116
cmg wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've gotten a few in the last couple months, with a US cellular number that I've had for over 20 years. At least two are "I missed you at the gym today!" via text and another was from a Vermont area code via WhatsApp to a "Dr. Jack": > Hi Dr. Jack! My cat is very slow and does not eat cat food. Can you make an appointment for me? > Sorry, you have the wrong number > Sorry, I just checked, I entered a wrong number, pl…

There is no person. You are just helping train an AI

idk, I've tried baiting these -- respond with "no problem, your appointment is booked!" They will thank you and proceed with the "so what are your hobbies" part.

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#148

Post by aaronwalker »

noveltyaccount wrote: post #131

Related. I listed something for sale on Craigslist recently and got a bunch of messages right away that asked obvious questions that were in the listing. One suggested that his wife pick it up, and can I take Zelle? Went silent when I said cash only. But the most interesting scammer said: "for my safety, can I send you a 6-digit number, and you confirm it, so I know the listing is not fake?" I say yes, unsure what th…

Hmm. Makes me wonder about the security of two factor authentication schemes. For scams like these it's pretty obvious that someone is trying to access your account, but I do wonder if there are more secure ways to verify your identity when changing account settings.

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#149

Post by yorwba »

cmg wrote: post #120
RajT88 wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had almost the exact same exchange, with someone with a photo just like that! 747 area code, was it?

It was an 802 area code in this case, but I think it’s pretty clear now that these scammers have multiple personas and numbers to work with.

Does the profile picture have a sign in the background saying "Vilan Pho - Fresh Soup Everyday", perchance?

I got

"Hello are you Mr.Jack? My aunt recommended you to me,saying that the found the shop I wantend."

Burmese phone number.

Re: What's the deal with all those weird wrong-number texts?

#150

Post by jeromegv »

nicoburns wrote: post #141
noveltyaccount wrote: post #131

Related. I listed something for sale on Craigslist recently and got a bunch of messages right away that asked obvious questions that were in the listing. One suggested that his wife pick it up, and can I take Zelle? Went silent when I said cash only. But the most interesting scammer said: "for my safety, can I send you a 6-digit number, and you confirm it, so I know the listing is not fake?" I say yes, unsure what th…

I got a similar scam via instagram DMs recently. They claimed to need me to confirm a code so that they could log in, but actually just triggered my own password reset. Message sent from an actual friend's account (which they had presumably successfully scammed) too. Certainly made me think about how password reset emails are worded!

Most of those are crypto scams. The IG account starts posting about how they got rich on crypto. This is a very prevalent scam.
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