AI-assisted scammers use fake "wrong number" texts to validate phone numbers and build victim trust
Scammers use AI to generate realistic 'wrong number' text messages to validate phone numbers, collect personal information, and build trust with victims before conducting financial scams. According to the FTC, text message scams cost consumers $470 million in 2024, five times the 2020 total.
What happened
Scammers increasingly use AI to generate personalized 'wrong number' text messages that appear to come from acquaintances, such as 'Hey, how are you?' or 'Hey, how's your sore back?' or 'Sorry, I'm running a little late; I'll meet you for dinner at 6:15.' Ann Nagel, who works at a college in suburban Chicago, received such a text that she initially thought was from a member of an organization she runs in town.
According to McAfee's chief technology officer Steve Grobman, the scammers use these messages with multiple objectives: first to validate that a mobile number is active and the person is willing to engage and respond, then adding the number to a database for targeted future scams. 'Once the first objective is met, what they are trying to do is build some sort of relationships,' Grobman said, working toward 'pig butchering scams' that involve forging personal relationships to gain trust before requesting money.
The scammers, most often based overseas, are part of well-funded, well-organized criminal enterprises willing to invest time in building relationships with potential victims. When a number is blocked by a person, phone company, or wireless carrier, scammers move to the next one.
Reported impact
In 2024, consumers lost $470 million to scams that started with text messages, according to the Federal Trade Commission—five times higher than what was reported in 2020. The FTC says 22 percent of scams that result in monetary loss are originated via text, and that number is increasing.
Ann Nagel was targeted in one incident where the scammer asked her to send a Vanilla Visa gift card and scratch off the back numbers, though she recognized the scam and ended the exchange.
Index analysis
AI systems are being used to generate personalized, contextually plausible text messages at scale, allowing scammers to craft messages that appear authentic to recipients and bypass detection by seeming innocent and conversational.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.