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Most of us have probably received a text from someone we don't know at one point. Sometimes, the "Oops, wrong number" might be an attempt to scam you, as in February 2025, Americans received 19.2 billion spam texts. But if a person really got the wrong number, some seriously hilarious banter might unfold.
The community r/wrongnumber collects the most amusing cases of mistaken identity through texting. While some people decide to troll those who text them by accident, others decide to engage, and some wholesome, awkward, or hilarious exchanges might follow. So, scroll down and check out our newest collection from the subreddit below!
More info: Reddit
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#1
This Didn't Make Me Cry, It Made You Cry
SmooshyFries 8 months ago
Two people I know lost a child in the last couple of years. Both of their kids were mid 20’s. I agree, definitely my biggest fear.
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to old to care 8 months ago
I am sad for the correct mother that was only going to get a text Merry Christmas. CALL YOUR MOM!!!!
RELATED:
#2
Bart Simpson Gets A Text From Lisa
Patrick H 8 months ago
This is a common setup for a scam. Someone sends you a text that send to be meant for someone else. After you tell them they have the wrong number, they continue chatting. Considering that they missed the obvious Simpsons reference, I'm even more inclined to think it's a foreign scammer. You should ALWAYS fùck around with these people and waste their time, but you should also be careful not to give them any personal information.
Parmeisan 8 months ago
Possibly an AI scammer. Notice the immediate tone shift to match the first reply? I think that's more of an AI thing than a human thing - it's way too obvious. Of course, I could be wrong.
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Tucker Cahooter 8 months ago
"...my best friend Nelson". I know I haven't watched it in years, but has Milhous been dumped?
trent hezze 8 months ago
It's a a scam soon they send pic of asian woman happened 3 times I always play along to waste their time lol
Peeka_Mimi 8 months ago
This is a scammer. I've had the same conversation almost word for word. I finally realized it was a scam and reported and blocked.
#3
Not Mine, But Hilarious
Beak Hookage 8 months ago
I read this in the voice of BoJack Horseman. Clean up your sh*t, Todd!
All it takes is a slip of the finger, you put in the wrong number and bam, the text you meant for your husband ends up in a stranger's inbox. And while accidental texts can be embarrassing, they can also be a pretty effective strategy when you want to reconnect, apologize, or just prank someone.
The art of the fake accidental text was explored pretty well in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. You address a text to the person who did the recipient wrong and badmouth them to win them over, but "accidentally" send it to the person you want to apologize to. But be warned: just because it worked for Larry David, doesn't mean it'll work for you.
#4
Got This Number And Feel So Bad For This Person
PenCharmosa 8 months ago
One of my best friends passed away 26 years ago - I don’t have any videos of his voice but I remind myself how he said my name all the time. Feel this longing to my core
Sarah Bailey 8 months ago
If I ever become the recipient of one of these heaven messages, that I myself have sent, I will respond with 2 options for the loved one I'm communicating with. ...... Hello, I see that this number belonged to a lost loved one of yours, and has now been reactivated and been given to me. Your love messages do not bother me and I shall receive them quietly, graciously on behalf of your lost. Or I can receive them and respond kindly, as a new understanding friend that has experienced great loss myself.
SweetCheesySpaghetti 8 months ago
My mother-in-law's number was repurposed and showed up on my snapchat one day. i cried a lot that day.
Michelle C 8 months ago
Yup. Losing a friend or family member, especially unexpectedly, and not wanting to delete their number because you still haven’t quite accepted their passing wholly and not wanting to experience the grief again is painful. 💔
#5
This "Wrong Number" Clarification:
Cee Cee 8 months ago
One weekend last year when there was a major storm heading to the UK I began getting scheduling texts from someone at British Airways. No way to reply etc. Spent several hours trying to let BA know. Customer service useless which is typical for BA. Eventually a text arrives that has a name but no contact number. Tracking him down on LinkedIn. Finally the texts stop. No apology or thanks for letting us know. Don't fly BA.
KieLeaHar 8 months ago
Wowww! Talk about ridiculous!! Couldn’t that also be done live of dumbàrse causing a breach in security somehow? Probably not but it’s 2:30am here and I’ve been throwing up all night from the food I ate so my brain is just not thinking correctly and I just woke up and can’t sleep again yet.
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SnootWaggling Fox 8 months ago
Why are there so many people who don't get the concept of a wrong number?
#6
Help Me
KieLeaHar 8 months ago
I’ve actually been in those while in comas AND while awake and they are fu€king awful.. especially the… things I was with which I CANNOT write about on here,
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cj be like 8 months ago
just try not to hear anything. cause if you do, whatever you heard has definitely heard you
However, if you do decide to employ the fake accidental text tactic, be aware that the receiver can often see through the ploy. In his unofficial experiment for the CBC, Clifton Mark found that one of the most popular ways to get someone's attention with an accidental text is to send out a blank text. He tried it out himself with someone he hadn't spoken to for a few weeks, and it worked – they responded and it got the conversation going.
Mark writes that he found out three things from his "research" on online message boards about accidental texting. First, that it's pretty common. Men and women do it, and it's mostly a tool to manipulate romantic partners or exes. Aside from blank texts, people also imply that they're up to something more interesting, like, "Yeah, that was so crazy last night!" or want to invoke jealousy: "Thanks for a lovely night. Miss you already. xx"
#7
Evelyn
Chris the Bobcat 8 months ago
Does anyone else read the phrase "There can be only one" in Clancy Brown's voice?
Jennifer Elyse 8 months ago
Is this a bot message? I’ve gotten almost the exact same ‘wrong number’ text from ‘Evelyn’.
#8
Short And Sweet
Joshua Moore 8 months ago
The evil me sees the phone number is exposed for the world to see, so the entire BP community could have some fun with the end user. JS 😁🤷♂️
#9
Context: my friend and I decided to give each other random names and the one I decided to make myself was god... And when I got that first message, I thought it was her... At least it felt good to make her feel better.
Yet, unsurprisingly, the third thing that Mark learned from his experiment was that people very often detect fake accidental texts. Just like lying in real life, 'accidental' texts have one weakness: they're the hardest to pull off when we want to do it the most.
"People are most likely to see through 'accidental' texts when they are used for their most common purpose (romantic manipulation) and when they yield the most benefit (by leading the target to a specific conclusion)," Mark wrote.
#10
Girl Keeps Texting Me And Saying I'm Someone She Knows, No Matter How Many Times I Tell Her That I'm Not Them
#11
Finally Have A Story To Share
cj be like 8 months ago (edited)
and he would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for this meddling person!!!
#12
Oksana Isn’t The Smartest Scammer
Dating experts at Love Panky write that the key to a good 'accidental' text is to not overdo it. Then it doesn't seem as suspicious. When you want to revive a conversation with a romantic prospect, text them something like "Do you really think so?", "I can't believe they did that", or "What are the chances?!", or "Of course, I WILL do that tomorrow, I promise!"
#13
Can’t Make It To The BBQ
#14
They Have Yet To Reply
#15
This Dude Was Unhinged
ohjojo (you/your's) 8 months ago
The responder had a perfect opportunity to go into matter and the makeup of the universe, but just let it go instead. suppose they know what's best for them.
Billo66 8 months ago (edited)
What? Couldn't hear ya someones shouting up there.
Load More Replies...They also claim that timing for good 'accidental' texts matters. Late-night texts just read as cliche booty calls, so, the best time to send an "Oops, wrong number" text is in the early evening or during the day. If the 'accidental' text doesn't work, it's better not to push it: knowing when to walk away is also a good skill to have.
#16
Almost Scored A $30k Bottle Of Whiskey Lmao
#17
What Cult Is This?
Patrick H 8 months ago (edited)
Pretty sure this was a scam setup. Pretend they have a won't number, then make friendly conversation to dig up info. They got mad the m when they found it that they're not the target demographic. They wanted someone older that was more likely to have a savings account. After they found out the target was wireless to them, they broke character.
#18
What In The F**k…
Unfortunately, not all accidental texts are flirty attempts at reconnecting. Scammers use this tactic more often than we realize. That's why not responding to such a text from a stranger is the best strategy. In 2023, the FBI even issued a warning to build awareness about "Oops, wrong number!" scams.
#19
Got A Text From A Random Old Man
Raya 8 months ago
Everyone, you NEED to see the pic of the cat, omg she is absolutely SO PRECIOUS 😭😭💘
Daniel Alexander 8 months ago
The pic of the cat is on the og Reddit post, which you can go to by clicking on the small text to the bottom left of the image.
#20
This Guy Really Still Wanted To Meet This Woman, Even After The Second Reply
#21
Beware The Onion Man
Snowkit 8 months ago
“Buttery chicken sandwich with pistachio and pineapple “
Load More Replies...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."
#22
To My Boss At A New Job Instead Of My Husband. Could Have Been Worse! Lucky He's Cool
#23
My Boyfriend Confused My Number For His Best Friend’s, Now I Learned He Was A Vendetta With The Moon
#24
Third Year In A Row, I Am Become Debbie
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.
#25
First Wrong Number Incident I’ve Gotten
Deleila Charlie 8 months ago
How do you know it's an English post? Because of the xxx signed at the end. Never goes wrong.
#26
I Love Wrong Number Texts
Patrick H 8 months ago
What do you mean by "real"? Are you saying that if the driver actually killed a person, then it's hilarious? That's not so good.
Load More Replies... #27
I’m Just Looking Out For Him
Strings 8 months ago
Depending on the purpose of said shotgun, could be anything. I've known trap shooters that buy a new $10k gun every couple years
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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."
#28
The Number Was Not Right
Beak Hookage 8 months ago
Unless it's a live one being adopted with a comfy new coop awaiting.
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#29
Guys I Think I Broke Him…
Myopic chahuahua 6 months ago
unless sender is gay for receiver then he would be "your gay"
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BrownEyedGrrrl 8 months ago
WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT IT? Sorry. It's maddening.
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David Morgan 8 months ago
Didn't "Sheer Wall Of Gay" have a Top 10 hit in 1987?
Load More Replies... Charles Randall 8 months ago
yeah I love my gay, I think we should all embrace our gay (grammar police)
#30
Help Why Did This Freak Me Out So Much
CrunChewy McSandybutt 8 months ago
Does anyone know what is the end game of the wrong number scammers?
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!
#31
Scammer Tries
OpheliaPoe 8 months ago
I guess they got some things wrong the first time around. Or did some more research 😳
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#32
What Did I Say Wrong?
#34
Got The Best Wrong Number Text Ever Yesterday
Bay Bo 8 months ago (edited)
Honestly, how does this really happen? Who nowadays types in a phone number? And who on earth would type in a wrong number and TEXT that they can't talk right now cause they're giving birth?!? Oh yah, scammers duh
Paul McMahon 8 months ago
If the spammer uses a fake caller ID phone number, any text replies to the missed call will go to the wrong number.
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#36
A Menacing End To A Polite Conversation
Upstaged75 8 months ago
Hope to bring you trouble tomorrow? The scammer is being upfront about their plans I guess.
#37
Just Found This Subreddit And Needed To Share This. A Couple Of Years Ago, I Tried To Send A Bunch Of Selfies To My Own Number… But I Accidentally Mistyped By One Digit
David Morgan 8 months ago
You tried to send 'selfies'...to yourself? SELFIES. TO YOURSELF. Mistyping is the least of your problems with technology.
Foxinamug 8 months ago
Sometimes it's the easiest way to get them onto a different device. I don't know specifically how the text version would work but I email myself all the time to swap pics/art from my phone to my tablet/laptop and vice versa.
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#38
Just Got This Text, And I Answered
#39
Title
#40
Happy Mood Restored
Mother of Giants 8 months ago
99% of these aren't 'wrong number' texts.... They're scammers trying to get your info....
#42
This One… Alarmed Me
#43
How Does Bella Know The Major City Near Where I Live?!
#44
I've Lived For This Moment
#45
Idk What Even To Say Back
#46
Seafood For The Company Dinner
#47
What Else Could I Say?
OneHappyPuppy 8 months ago
And the second one on this list with Macallan whiskey that apparently costs $30k
Load More Replies... Nichole Harris 8 months ago
But dang.... That's a fine Scotch.... Not my favorite, I prefer the isles, Laphroaig is my fav.... But still a dang fine dram
#48
I Meant To Text Myself, Text My Old Number Instead
#49
Is This A Real Person Or Bot
#50
Accidentally Sent This To A Guy That I’ve Been Casually Flirting With After He Asked Me On A Date
#51
Old But Still Gold
#52
I Swear I Don't Know You
Clown fish 8 months ago
Click the name X_Dingus_X you can the read the first screenshot of texts
Load More Replies... Beak Hookage 8 months ago
I've used those weird rocking stools before. They're meant to be good for you. They certainly aren't all that comfy.
#53
Why
#54
This Feels Wrong, What’s Their End Goal Here?
#55
Creepy
#56
Staff At A Seaport Think I’m Steve, And Frequently Send Me Manifest/Scheduling Updates. Somehow I’ve Successfully Played Along
#57
Got A Text From A Random Number. Little Did She Know That I’m The Booty Genie
#58
A California Snob Messages Mike
Clown fish 8 months ago (edited)
Hi Mike, I ordered three bottles of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon from your winery last week. Could you please deliver it to Villa 15 at Presidio Terrace this afternoon? I'm not going to be seen engaging with all the peasants over there at Presidio. I have an image to maintain. Rest of texts
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What do you think ?
Ace 8 months ago
These should be separated into genuine wrong numbers with funny replies and people just messing with scammers, which is at least half of these.
char 8 months ago
both are funny, but it is a little trippy to be switching back and forth
Load More Replies... Deta Rossiter 8 months ago
i have a fascination, How can Americans not save a number in their phone? How can they incorrectly text a friend?
Patrick H 8 months ago
Why do you assume it's just Americans? Also, many of these are scammers pretending to have the wrong number.
Load More Replies... Doug Moyer 8 months ago
Wow. What a load of c**p. You should never interact with the bots (collecting active numbers for sale to scammers) or scammers.
Patrick H 8 months ago
That's not entirely true. If it's a bot, then interacting is a waste of your time. However, if it's a scammer (and you realize it), then you should absolutely interact with them and waste their time with fake info. More time they wasted on your fake interactions means less time they have to fool older/gullible people.
Load More Replies... Ace 8 months ago
These should be separated into genuine wrong numbers with funny replies and people just messing with scammers, which is at least half of these.
char 8 months ago
both are funny, but it is a little trippy to be switching back and forth
Load More Replies... Deta Rossiter 8 months ago
i have a fascination, How can Americans not save a number in their phone? How can they incorrectly text a friend?
Patrick H 8 months ago
Why do you assume it's just Americans? Also, many of these are scammers pretending to have the wrong number.
Load More Replies... Doug Moyer 8 months ago
Wow. What a load of c**p. You should never interact with the bots (collecting active numbers for sale to scammers) or scammers.
Patrick H 8 months ago
That's not entirely true. If it's a bot, then interacting is a waste of your time. However, if it's a scammer (and you realize it), then you should absolutely interact with them and waste their time with fake info. More time they wasted on your fake interactions means less time they have to fool older/gullible people.
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