As long as people have smartphones, they will keep texting the wrong numbers. Whether it's a person who didn't know they were given a fake one at a bar or someone who honestly made a typo, it's inevitable.
But as natural as it sounds, receiving such a text is always a surprise. So, to prepare you for this moment, Bored Panda has compiled a list of screenshots of some of the most unexpected wrong number messages. We're talking warnings in the form of a grape photo, and never-ending announcements of incoming chili. You know, the good stuff. After going through these, believe me, no random stranger will catch you off guard via text.
Continue scrolling to check out the entries and be sure to fire up our earlier list about the funniest wrong number texts, too!
This post may include affiliate links.
So how is one supposed to answer to a misdirected text? Out of all the ways to handle it, politely letting the offending party know what happened is the kindest route you can take. Typically, they will probably either apologize and immediately cut ties or send a novel filled with uncertainty and insecurities. So if you choose the noble route, be ready for the consequences.
But if you're positive you don't know this person, so can use the prime opportunity to... be a dick about it. If that's what your heart demands, of course. However, remember that there's a real human being with real feelings on the other end and you have no idea what condition their mental state might be in. And, of course, they have your phone number. So naturally, there are limits.
When in doubt, a simple "sorry, I think you have the wrong number" should (hopefully) be enough. But if things start to get out of hand, you can always call your service provider and have that particular number blocked.
Celebrating the Spaghetti monster by jumping naked over a fire? Seems to be an interesting cult.
That person tried to fire Donald. There are many people who want to get rid of Donald.
"If you're not the person I'm trying to text, why do you have this number?"
Give the number back to the person I'm trying to text or I'll call the police
Load More Replies...
I had a sad but surreal conversation in the hospital that was a bit like this. An elderly lady with dementia in the next bed kept waking up not knowing where she was. I would reassure her each time that she was in hospital and they were taking good care of her. One time she said "How do you know I'm in the hospital?" In a suspicious voice. I replied "Because I broke my ankle and I'm in the same hospital." That answer satisfied her until morning
"Hello? Is this John Smith's line?" "No, I'm sorry, it's not" "Why did you pick up, then?"
Someone once replied to me " it's not the wrong number, it's the wrong person !" Don't be mad at me cuz you're stupid, lmao
Seriously - how do people get texts from wrong random numbers? I tried to do it - it doesn’t work. I’m confused.
"you know you're telling a literal stranger about your d**k right now, so I don't think the 9 inches was the problem tbh"..... brilliant! :D
These are my tips for Jamaica I went there in 2015: 1. It’s better to travel with someone 2. Stay at a 4 or more star hotel. There may be some shady places 3. If you want to go sightseeing, book a tour with a tour guide so you have a local person to make sure you are safe 4. Never go anywhere alone 5. I would totally recommend going to Dunn’s River Falls & Park in Ocho Rios, you can climb a waterfall!
Is "bar hoping" going from bar to bar hoping they won't notice you're carrying a fake ID?
It would have been really mean if this conversation has stopped after the first reply.
Note: this post originally had 119 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
*agast* No such thing as enjoying THIS too much!!!!
Load More Replies...
The last 4 digits of my phone number are 1234 (no joking). I get random calls all the time. At first I was angry then I realized that these poor souls were given fake numbers and it just happened to be my number. So then I started helping them either find who they are looking for or with whatever they are trying to do. It's been really rewarding to help out and not be a b***h about things.
Someone who was given a wrong number has a high chance of being a creepy dude though...
Load More Replies...
Am I the only one that doesn't find amusement in stringing strangers along, particularly when its to screw up something important, like organising fake shifts and fake events?
small stuff is fine, like sending them bizarre pictures or setting up a bad pun. but it's not ok to screw with their lives. (and if you don't tell them you're the wrong person, at least make it so outlandish that there's no chance they'd actually believe you...)
Load More Replies...
yes, but numbers get changed. and when given a new number, some people type it wrong into their contacts.
Load More Replies...
I once got a text from a woman and after a few exchanges she was asking me if I was still up for the 3some with her and her husband. We chatted for days before I told her she had the wrong number.
I keep getting requests directed to "Cheryl" wanting to buy her house. So I respond by saying, "This isn't Cheryl, but I heard her she-shed burned down so you might want to reconsider that offer."
Cheryl no one burned down your she shed it was hit by lightning (he says while watering the lawn in the middle of a storm looking sus)
Load More Replies...
This happened to me at Thanksgiving. I texted my daughter and a friend. Got the friends number wrong and invited someone to dinner if they’d bring pumpkin pie. S’truth. My daughter begged me to stop. My “friend” thought it was good fun. Me too.
She had other plans and hates pumpkin pie. Fair enough.
Load More Replies...
I will never understand how people even end up texting a stranger. I only use numbers that I've saved, of people I know. How do you even end up typing in a number manually to text someone?!
There are 120 posts, but a lot of them are repeats are earlier ones. Anyone else experiencing this? Maybe it's just a glitch on my end.
At one point, I was getting holiday greetings every holiday from the person who had my number before's friend. I would tell them that I wasn't their friend, but I still thanked them for the greetings. Most recently someone sent a text to me about the fact that they were going to the doctor. Again, I didn't know the person but I wished them the best of luck. Sometimes getting a wrong number can be embarrassing and other times you get to meet some interesting people.
We used to get voicemails from an older woman who was trying to call her friend to give her updates. I really enjoyed hearing from her.
Load More Replies...
Past couple of months I’ve been getting texts and calls from a wrong number. Sometimes it’s a different person who calls but that same number I tell them multiple times they have the wrong number but they continue to call and text lol and I have a s****y cheap phone for now so i don’t think I’m able to block on it.
Funny..... I'm surprised at some that did not believe they had the wrong number. I use to get regular phone calls from people I did not know, and at times they would argue with me when I told them they had the wrong number. Too bad they did not have more people play along with the clueless person.
*agast* No such thing as enjoying THIS too much!!!!
Load More Replies... The last 4 digits of my phone number are 1234 (no joking). I get random calls all the time. At first I was angry then I realized that these poor souls were given fake numbers and it just happened to be my number. So then I started helping them either find who they are looking for or with whatever they are trying to do. It's been really rewarding to help out and not be a b***h about things.
Someone who was given a wrong number has a high chance of being a creepy dude though...
Load More Replies... Am I the only one that doesn't find amusement in stringing strangers along, particularly when its to screw up something important, like organising fake shifts and fake events?
small stuff is fine, like sending them bizarre pictures or setting up a bad pun. but it's not ok to screw with their lives. (and if you don't tell them you're the wrong person, at least make it so outlandish that there's no chance they'd actually believe you...)
Load More Replies... yes, but numbers get changed. and when given a new number, some people type it wrong into their contacts.
Load More Replies... I once got a text from a woman and after a few exchanges she was asking me if I was still up for the 3some with her and her husband. We chatted for days before I told her she had the wrong number.
I keep getting requests directed to "Cheryl" wanting to buy her house. So I respond by saying, "This isn't Cheryl, but I heard her she-shed burned down so you might want to reconsider that offer."
Cheryl no one burned down your she shed it was hit by lightning (he says while watering the lawn in the middle of a storm looking sus)
Load More Replies... This happened to me at Thanksgiving. I texted my daughter and a friend. Got the friends number wrong and invited someone to dinner if they’d bring pumpkin pie. S’truth. My daughter begged me to stop. My “friend” thought it was good fun. Me too.
She had other plans and hates pumpkin pie. Fair enough.
Load More Replies... I will never understand how people even end up texting a stranger. I only use numbers that I've saved, of people I know. How do you even end up typing in a number manually to text someone?!
There are 120 posts, but a lot of them are repeats are earlier ones. Anyone else experiencing this? Maybe it's just a glitch on my end.
At one point, I was getting holiday greetings every holiday from the person who had my number before's friend. I would tell them that I wasn't their friend, but I still thanked them for the greetings. Most recently someone sent a text to me about the fact that they were going to the doctor. Again, I didn't know the person but I wished them the best of luck. Sometimes getting a wrong number can be embarrassing and other times you get to meet some interesting people.
We used to get voicemails from an older woman who was trying to call her friend to give her updates. I really enjoyed hearing from her.
Load More Replies... Past couple of months I’ve been getting texts and calls from a wrong number. Sometimes it’s a different person who calls but that same number I tell them multiple times they have the wrong number but they continue to call and text lol and I have a s****y cheap phone for now so i don’t think I’m able to block on it.
Funny..... I'm surprised at some that did not believe they had the wrong number. I use to get regular phone calls from people I did not know, and at times they would argue with me when I told them they had the wrong number. Too bad they did not have more people play along with the clueless person.
