Frequent readers of this blog know of my verbal jousting with the wrong number scammers: they introduce themselves, apologize for getting me by accident, and then pursue a closer friendship on WhatsApp. I enjoy messing with them through improv and sometimes they can’t handle it. Oh, no, looks like I got the wrong number forContinue reading “What Confusion?”
Tag Archives: scam
Wrong Number (2)
And this one went on too long. I thought at first that  it might be a real person pretending to be this persona but the answers do seem a bit reactive and formulaic. And at that point I just hit the block button to wait for the next one.
Wrong Number (1)
I’ve written a lot about the wrong number texts—someone sends a message to a friend but has entered the number incorrectly. Oh, no, sorry, but can we be friends? I used to have fun improvising with them, but lately they’ve been taking a darker turn. And so have I. This week I’ve gotten about 12Continue reading “Wrong Number (1)”
And It Continues…
Awhile back I was posting a lot of these “wrong number” texts and my improv’d responses to them. A friend suggested that the origin of those might in fact be AI bots, but I don’t think it makes it less funny or tragic. Take these two; their approach is slightly different but I responded theContinue reading “And It Continues…”
Wrong Number & Mood Swings
Labor Day 2024 wasn’t a holiday for the wrong number callers. I think this was #5. And how they hate—literally!—when you point out that you know what they’re doing.
Take Your Job and…
I keep getting text messages from someones who ask if I am looking for work. These could be legitimate messages, though I have suspected they are not. The most recent exchange suggests: not. Yesterday this occurred: I thought that would be the end of it. Today this happens. Apparently “Jessica” doesn’t understand the difference betweenContinue reading “Take Your Job and…”
You’re a Character—Or Two
Another wrong number text message hit my phone this past weekend. “She” started on the offensive (there’s probably some chess gambit I could refer to here) but I hit back immediately. You have to admire them for only wanting to be friends. Anytime the conversation goes sexual, they deflect. I should probably be grateful forContinue reading “You’re a Character—Or Two”
And Just Then…
When I thought I might have a day off from the wrong number scammers, here comes this one. I was impressed that the opening gambit differed from previous ones; usually they tell me I’m some Asian woman and that they’re a friend of mine. Here “she “uses my name, but flips the script and saysContinue reading “And Just Then…”
Short-Circuit the Scam
Last week I had a half dozen of those wrong number scam messages. Frequent readers of my blog know that I usually like to play along with them. But lately I’ve decided to play against them and see what happens. This is an example of attempting to short-circuit their script. I did expect some sortContinue reading “Short-Circuit the Scam”
Am I On Tinder??
A few years ago I googled myself and discovered I had a Wikipedia page that I had not created. But I’m pretty sure I’m not on Tinder, as this scammer suggests. Now, I do have to give “her” credit for not being a jewelry/fashion designer and dabbler in investments and cryptocurrency like so many ofContinue reading “Am I On Tinder??”