In recent years, many people have been receiving texts from unknown numbers that appear to be intended for someone else. These “wrong number” texts can be annoying and seem to be increasingly common. There are a few key reasons why wrong number texts are on the rise.
More Texting in General
Texting has become the most popular form of communication for many people. According to a recent study, the average person sends around 80 texts per day. With so many texts being sent overall, it’s no surprise that some end up going to the wrong recipient. As texting continues to grow, wrong number texts are likely to increase as well.
Typos
One simple explanation for wrong number texts is that the sender made a mistake when entering the phone number. With the small keyboards on mobile devices, typos and autocomplete errors can easily lead to a text being addressed to the wrong person. Even just a single digit typed incorrectly can result in the text being sent to a different number than intended.
Recycled Phone Numbers
When someone gets a new phone number, their old number doesn’t disappear – it gets recycled and assigned to a new customer. If the previous owner of your phone number didn’t update their number with all their contacts, you may receive texts intended for them. This happens frequently when businesses don’t update their records when getting new phone systems.
Spam Texts
Many wrong number texts are also a result of spamming techniques used by scammers and spammers. Robocallers and texting bots will often send messages en masse to a range of numbers, hoping to elicit a response from potential targets. Even if only a small percentage of the random numbers texted respond, it can still be profitable for scammers due to the large volume of texts sent.
Responding to the Wrong Text Thread
If you have multiple text conversations going on in your messaging app, it’s possible to accidentally respond to the wrong thread. Your message may make no sense to the recipient, essentially becoming a wrong number text for them. This can be avoided by carefully checking which text thread you’re replying to before hitting send.
Old Contacts
When you get a new phone, your contacts may transfer over from your old device. However, some of those old contacts may have changed their numbers without updating you. If you text one of those outdated numbers, the recipient won’t have any idea who you are or why you’re texting them.
Butt Dials
Accidental “butt dials” or “pocket dials” can also result in wrong number texts being sent. If a device in your pocket presses buttons that compose and send a text, the recipient will be confused when receiving a nonsensical message from an unknown number.
Pre-Populated Spam Lists
There are lists of cell phone numbers available online that can be bought by spammers and scammers. They may text random messages to the numbers on those lists in hopes of getting responses. If your number ends up on such a list, you’re likely to receive more wrong number texts.
Errors in Group Texts
When sending a group text, it’s easy to select the wrong name from your contacts and accidentally include someone unrelated. That person will then get confusing group messages with no context, essentially being wrong number texts for them.
Texting the Wrong Number from Memory
If you frequently text someone, you may have their number memorized – but memory isn’t perfect. It’s not uncommon to mistype a number from memory and end up texting a complete stranger by accident.
Businesses with Randomly Generated Numbers
Some businesses use dynamically generated phone numbers that are discarded after a single use. This is common for delivery services and rideshares. If you don’t update your contacts, you may text an old random number that has been reassigned.
Phone Number Reuse by Carriers
Wireless carriers reuse inactive phone numbers rather than retiring them. As a result, the number you’re texting may have been reassigned without you realizing it. This often happens when someone gets a new phone number but their old contacts keep texting the discontinued number.
Text-Enabled Online Services
Many online services allow texting via randomized phone numbers that are discarded after use. Examples include rideshares and food deliveries. If you text one of these services from an old number in your contacts, the recipient will see it as a wrong number text.
Fake Wrong Numbers as a Flirting Tactic
Believe it or not, some people purposely send wrong number texts to strangers as a way to flirt or initiate conversation. Usually these texts pretend to have made an error in order to start a dialogue with the recipient. It’s an unorthodox approach but some view it as a way to meet people.
Businesses Disguising Marketing Texts
Similarly, some shady businesses will intentionally mislead by sending unsolicited marketing texts disguised as a wrong number. The goal is to get you to respond asking who they are, starting a conversation that leads to promotional pitches.
What to Do About Wrong Number Texts
When you receive a text that’s clearly meant for someone else, there are a few options on how to handle it:
- Politely reply that they have the wrong number and leave it at that.
- Just ignore and delete the text.
- Ask them to double check the number they’re trying to reach.
- Provide the actual number for the person if you happen to know it.
You can also reduce wrong number texts by updating your contacts regularly and deleting old threads. And be vigilant about not responding to suspicious texts from unknown numbers, which could verify your number as active.
The Bottom Line
Wrong number texts are an inevitability of mobile communication and are unlikely to stop. As texting continues to grow as the dominant form of communication, wrong texts will become even more common. However, being aware of why they happen and how to deal with them makes wrong number texts less bothersome.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I stop getting wrong number texts?
There is no foolproof way to avoid wrong number texts entirely, but some tips to reduce them include: updating your contacts regularly, deleting old text threads, not responding to suspicious texts from unknown numbers, asking contacts to double check your number, and turning off text notifications from unknown numbers if your phone allows it.
Why do I keep getting texts from random numbers?
Random texts from unknown numbers are often the result of spamming techniques used by scammers. Your number may end up on a list that gets bombarded with bot-generated texts hoping to lure responses. Telemarketers also frequently send unsolicited texts to random numbers in hopes of making sales.
What do I do if I text someone by accident?
If you text a wrong number by accident, the polite thing to do is send them a follow-up text clarifying the mistake. Apologize for the confusion and say you intended to text someone else. You can also ask them to disregard the text you sent.
Why am I getting texts for someone else’s delivery?
Many delivery services and food apps use temporary randomized numbers that get recycled frequently. You may be receiving texts intended for a previous user of a number that got reassigned. Try contacting the delivery service to have them update their records to remove your number.
How did someone get my number to wrongly text me?
Wrong number texts can often result from typos or recycled numbers getting reassigned to new users. Your number may also end up on a spam list purchased by scammers. And in some cases, people intentionally text random numbers when flirting or trying to promote businesses.
Is it illegal to text a wrong number on purpose?
There are no specific laws against texting a wrong number by accident. However, intentionally texting random numbers for harassment, scamming or deceptive purposes could potentially violate telecommunications or consumer protection laws, depending on the specific circumstances.
Can I get in trouble for texting a wrong number by mistake?
You cannot get in legal trouble for accidentally texting someone you don’t know due to making a simple mistake. However, you could face harassment charges if you continued texting the wrong number intentionally after realizing the error or being asked to stop.
How can I figure out who keeps texting my number incorrectly?
Try asking the texter who they are intending to reach or where they got your number from. You can also do a reverse phone lookup using websites or apps to identify the number. But in many cases, the texter’s identity and intent remains unknown.
What percentage of texts go to the wrong number?
Study | Year | Wrong Number Text Percentage |
Pew Research Center | 2011 | 15% |
Credo Mobile | 2012 | 20% |
Censuswide | 2013 | 14% |
USwitch | 2021 | 13% |
Surveys of text messaging users over the past decade estimate that around 13-20% of all texts go to the wrong number. However, the exact percentage likely varies greatly between individuals.
Why do scammers text wrong numbers?
Scammers and spammers text unsolicited messages to random wrong numbers for a couple reasons:
- They purchased lists of cell phone numbers without knowing accuracy.
- They use autodialing apps to text randomly generated numbers.
- A small percentage of recipients engage, allowing them to execute scams.
- Recipients may mark the number as “active” allowing more targeting.
Even if only 1% fall for their scams, mass texting wrong numbers can still be profitable for spammers and scammers in the long run.