Most of us have learned by now that answering a call from an unknown number can be risky. True, there is a chance that it is a friend with a new phone or someone calling from work, but most of the time, it turns out to be a telemarketer, an automated message, or even someone trying to scam you into giving them your personal information. As people have gotten wiser to these methods, however, companies and scammers have both adapted, and while it is almost a reflex at this point to dismiss a call from an unknown number, what about a text?
Text messages are a little harder to ignore, which is why they have become a new avenue of marketing as well as phishing attacks (sometimes called “smishing”). As many people’s favorite mode of communication, reading and answering a new text has become automatic. In addition, once a text is sent to your phone, it’s there. A phone conversation can be avoided altogether by not answering the call, but an unread text message begs to be noticed. And once you’ve read it, you have to wonder: “Who texted me?”
So What Can You Do?
Sometimes where the message is obviously a scam. At that point, it is best to ignore it or even block the number. If the text seems like it’s from someone familiar, the tried and true method of replying and asking for the sender’s name is likely the best option. But in the case where you suspect a scam or simply don’t want to engage in a text conversation with a potential stranger, there are services that provide a method for figuring out who is on the other end without any communication back. These are called reverse phone lookup tools and are often used to verify the numbers of those who texted me.
A reverse phone lookup tool can provide a variety of information. In some cases, you may find a name you recognize. Other times, you may be able to see a phone network, an email address, or even a location. If any of the information doesn’t check out, you can then block the number and move on with your day without the nagging feeling that you might be ignoring someone you know.
Knowing who is trying to get in touch with you can provide a sense of security and prevent you from ending up on a list that ensures you will continue to receive calls and texts. Many groups reach out to numbers at random and only continue to follow up once they know someone is on the other end. By not answering these calls or replying to texts, you may end up being removed from the list altogether and save yourself the frustration of the nagging solicitations.
Conclusion
Of course, there are applications that can spoof numbers for text messages, so take what you find with a grain of salt. It’s also worth mentioning that different places have different regulations regarding searching up others’ personal information, so it’s a good idea to be aware of those. But having a basic idea of who might be trying to reach out and if you would have any reason to know them certainly makes it easier to decide if you want to send a response back.
And at the very least, it can help you avoid having to send that familiar message. “Sorry. New phone. Who is this?”