The deputy district attorney in charge of the high technology crimes unit in Santa Clara County, California Erin West told NBC News that 'accidental' scam messages have become the most common way to rope people into crypto scams.
"Some are like, 'Hey, can I make an appointment for my dog at your salon?' They're broadening the way they will entrance you into the same scam. They are all scams, and I think they are all crypto-investment scams."
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How can people protect themselves against "accidental" text scams? The best strategy is to not respond, block and report, and be skeptical of any investment opportunities. Experts advise people to be cautious of what information they share about themselves online, especially on social media. They also recommend using two-factor authentication for maximum security.
Although it might sound funny to strike up a conversation with a stranger in theory, it's always to be safe than sorry. "Once they receive a response, scammers will try to strike up innocent conversation to establish a friendship," the experts at the Merrimack County Savings Bank write. "This may go on for weeks or even months before the scammer uses this bond to lure you into their schemes, such as cryptocurrency investment scams."
How many of you, Pandas, have received an "Oops, wrong number" text? Share with us your experiences, even if it was just an unsuccessful attempt to scam you. If you'd like to see more hilarious conversations similar to this list, check out our previous articles on the r/wrongnumber subreddit here, here, and here!