Your “Who’s this?” reply is exactly what text scammers want

Scammers are finding different ways to use personal details exposed in data breaches to lure people into conversations.

Last week, we showed how a Facebook Marketplace listing used the recipient’s name to make a text asking “Is this still available?” more convincing.

The one we got this week was a lot simpler. No suspicious link. No overdue payment. No warning that your account is about to be closed. No fake images.

Just your name, followed by a question mark.

It’s a remarkably small opening for what could become a much bigger problem. A message like this invites an almost automatic response: “Yes?” Or perhaps, “Who’s this?”

That’s because a scammer needs to get you to engage before they can persuade you to hand over money or personal information. Sometimes, the first thing they ask you to give them is simply a reply. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned about similarly brief, apparently harmless messages that scammers use to start conversations.

The text in our example gives the recipient very little information, but leaves an obvious question unanswered: Who wants to know? Using the correct name makes that question more compelling. This is not just a generic “Hello” that could have gone to anyone. It looks as though the sender is trying to reach you specifically.

It’s tempting to think, “They have my name and number, so this must be someone I know.” But having those details is not evidence they know you. As we discussed in the Marketplace article, name-and-phone-number combinations can come from breached data traded by cybercriminals.

What follows depends on the scheme. The first message doesn’t tell us which route this scammer planned to take. But documented scams show how an innocuous introduction can develop:

• A supposed wrong-number exchange becomes a friendly conversation.
• The sender builds a relationship rather than immediately asking for money.
• An investment opportunity eventually enters the discussion.
• The victim is encouraged to send money to a fraudulent investment scheme.

The FBI describes how cryptocurrency investment scammers build trust before introducing fake investments, and identifies unsolicited texts as one way they approach victims.

Even if the conversation goes no further, your reply can still be useful to the scammer. As we explained in our earlier article on wrong-number texts, it shows that you are willing to engage. Your number can then be reused or sold for other scam campaigns.

How to stay safe

A scam doesn’t have to begin with an outrageous promise or an urgent threat. Sometimes it begins with something much more ordinary: your name, a question mark, and the expectation that you will be polite enough to answer.

Don’t reply. Even “Who’s this?” or “Wrong number” tells the scammer you are willing to respond. If you think it might be someone you know, contact them through a number or channel you already trust.

Report before you block. Use your messaging app’s reporting option, then block the sender. If you have already replied, stop engaging.

Make yourself harder to profile. Review privacy settings on messaging apps and social media. Limit who can see your profile photo, status, last seen, and phone number.

Run a Malwarebytes Digital Footprint Scan to check for personal information exposed in known breaches and on the dark web. It helps to be aware of what can be used to target you.

Use Malwarebytes Scam Number Check to see whether the sender’s number has been flagged for scams or spam.