'Wrong Number' Friendly Opener (Pig-Butchering Entry)
A stray 'wrong number' text turns friendly and, over days or weeks, becomes a relationship that steers you toward a fake investment.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You get a random text meant for someone else ('Hi Jessica, still on for lunch?'). If you reply, the sender is warm and chatty and keeps the conversation going, building a friendship or romance. Over time they mention their success investing in crypto and offer to guide you — the on-ramp to a pig-butchering investment scam. The 'wrong number' is a deliberate opener sent to thousands of people at once.
What it usually looks like
- A misdirected but friendly text from an unknown number.
- A stranger eager to keep chatting after the 'mistake.'
- Conversation drifting toward their wealth and investing.
- An eventual offer to teach you to trade crypto.
Common warning signs
- A 'wrong number' that turns into persistent friendliness.
- A stranger steering toward investments.
- Photos that look like a model or influencer.
- Reluctance to meet but eagerness to 'help you profit.'
Example wording scammers use
“Hey! Are we still meeting for dinner tonight? — Oh sorry, wrong number! You seem nice though, how's your day?”
“I do really well trading crypto — I could show you sometime.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- To pull you into a long-con investment scam.
- Your engagement over time.
- Eventually, crypto deposits.
What to do
- Do not engage with wrong-number texts from strangers.
- Never take investment guidance from someone who texted you by 'accident.'
- Delete and block.
- Warn friends and family about the pattern.
What to do if you already responded
- Stop responding; do not send money or download any trading app.
- If you invested, preserve records and report to ic3.gov.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.