Warning: Replying to a “Wrong Number” Text Marks You as a Target for Scams

Attackers send innocuous “wrong-number” text messages to confirm which phone numbers are active and to profile recipients (responsiveness, politeness, reply time) for future SMS scams; the texts are often not malicious themselves but serve as a low-cost reconnaissance tactic that can be fueled by bulk-bought contact data, according to Malwarebytes.