When Scammers Send Ridiculous Texts to Catch the Most Susceptible

August 21, 2025

Ever get a text so strange you wonder, “Who would actually fall for this?” The answer is: exactly the kind of person scammers are hoping to catch.

Most scam texts are designed to look real—fake bank alerts, delivery notices, or urgent account warnings. But there’s another odd tactic scammers sometimes use: sending text messages so absurd that only the people most susceptible to falling for the scam will reply.

It sounds strange, but it’s intentional.

Scammers aren’t always trying to fool everyone. In fact, they sometimes deliberately craft texts that sound outlandish or nonsensical. This weeds out skeptical or cautious people and leaves behind only those most susceptible to falling for the scam.

Think of it as bait with a filter built in:

Obvious nonsense (e.g., a “king” offering you trillions, or aliens monitoring your bank account) ensures that anyone who replies has already accepted the bizarre premise.
Obvious errors in grammar or spelling (Not just a one-off mistake. Enough for most people to realize that it's fraud. Only people who match the situation so well that they have an urgent emotional reaction will follow through with the instructions.
Targeting the vulnerable means scammers spend less time convincing and more time cashing in.

It’s the same reason classic “Nigerian prince” emails are so poorly written. The scammers don’t want everyone—they want the small group who are most likely to go along with an outrageous story.

The Psychology Behind the Trap

Fraudsters know that once someone engages, they can build rapport, tell a longer story, and escalate demands. The more unusual the starting point, the less likely the victim will notice red flags down the road.

These tactics exploit:

Cognitive bias – If you’ve already accepted a bizarre premise, you’re more likely to rationalize the next request.
Isolation – Vulnerable individuals may not share the messages with friends or family for a reality check.
Persistence – Scammers know they only need people who are so invested they fall for it despite the flaws.

The Role of Bad Grammar and Spelling

One of the most obvious signs of a scam is sloppy writing. Scammers often send messages riddled with misspellings, awkward phrasing, and broken grammar.

Here’s an example:

Subject: URGENT ALERT: YOUR ACCOONT BEEN LIMITED!!!

Message:
“Dear Custumer,
We not able too verifi your infomation. If you do not updat your detailes immediatly, your accoont will be SUSPENED.
Click hear now: [fake link]
Failur to comply will result in permanently closed of your accoont.

Thank you for your coorporation,
Bank Securrity Team.”

To most people, this looks ridiculous. But scammers know that if someone ignores the mistakes and still clicks, they’re showing themselves as more susceptible to falling for the scam. That’s exactly who the scammer wants.

How to Protect Yourself and Others

Don’t engage: Even a reply like “Stop texting me” confirms your number is active. Make sure you know how to DELETE a text message, so you don't stumble upon it again in your message history.
Report and block: Use your carrier’s spam-reporting tools.
Educate gently: If a friend or family member shares a bizarre message, use it as a teaching moment, not ridicule. Ask what about this is making you feel like it's legitimate? (let them answer). What might make it seem illegitimate?

Bottom Line

Not every scam is designed to look legitimate. Some are deliberately outrageous, targeting only the people most susceptible to falling for the scam. It’s a chilling reminder that scammers adapt their tactics for every type of victim.

ScamFerret helps you spot both the slick and the silly scams—because staying sharp means protecting yourself no matter how strange the bait looks. Build the habit in yourself. Stop. Then send it to ScamFerret.