Why Am I Getting Text Messages That Just Say "Hi"?
April 26, 2025
If you’ve ever looked at your phone and seen a random text from an unknown number that just says “Hi,” you’re not alone. It’s surprisingly common — and surprisingly suspicious. While it might seem harmless at first, these types of messages are often the first step in a scam or phishing attempt.
Let’s break it down: why you get these “Hi” texts, what could happen next, and what you should do if you receive one.
Why You’re Getting These Texts
Scammers and spammers often send out short, vague messages like “Hi” to huge lists of phone numbers. Their goal? To figure out which numbers are active and monitored by real people. If you respond — even just to say, “Who’s this?” — you’re confirming that your number is live and that you’re willing to engage.
Once they know you’re real, you may become a target for more sophisticated scams, ranging from emotional manipulation (like fake romance scams) to links that try to steal your personal information.
What Could Happen If You Reply
If you answer a “Hi” text from an unknown sender, a few things could happen:
- They might escalate the conversation into a scam. It could start friendly and casual — but quickly turn into someone asking for money, personal information, or trying to get you to click a dangerous link.
- Your number might get shared with other scammers. Once you’re flagged as responsive, your number could be sold to other scam networks, leading to even more spam and scam attempts.
- You could be exposed to malware if the conversation eventually includes links that install harmful software on your device.
Why They Start With Just “Hi”
A simple “Hi” feels non-threatening. It’s designed to spark your curiosity without raising alarms. Psychologically, it’s harder to ignore something that looks like it could be from someone you know — a new coworker, an old friend, or someone who got a new number.
The vagueness gives the scammer room to adapt depending on who answers. If you seem trusting, they might pretend to be a lost acquaintance. If you seem cautious, they might pivot to something more urgent or dramatic.
What To Do If You Get One
- Don’t respond. Silence is your best defense.
- Block the number. On most phones, it takes just a couple taps to block and report a text.
- Report it. If you have time, you can forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) in the U.S., which helps carriers shut down scam operations. You can also use your phones 'Report Junk' functionality.
- Stay alert. If you accidentally replied, watch out for any future suspicious messages and consider increasing your phone’s spam filtering settings.
Bottom Line:
A random “Hi” isn’t just an awkward wrong number — it’s often a baited hook. Ignoring and blocking these texts helps protect you and keeps your number off scammer radars.
