---
title: "Scam calls and texts: call-back and reply scams | URLert"
description: "A number to call about a charge you didn't make, a friendly “wrong number” text, a missed call from abroad, or texts that add charges to your phone bill. What to do instead."
url: https://www.urlert.com/scams/call-or-reply
mcp: https://www.urlert.com/mcp
---

[URLert home](https://www.urlert.com/index.md)

[About (opens in a new tab)](https://www.urlert.com/about.md) [Sign in](https://www.urlert.com/login.md)

[All scam guides](https://www.urlert.com/scams.md)

# Messages that want you to call or reply

A number to call about a charge you didn't make, a friendly “wrong number” text, a missed call from abroad, or texts that add charges to your phone bill. What to do instead.

An email

From to me

PayPal: You've been charged $499.99 for Bitcoin. If you didn't make this purchase, call our support at +1 555 0142.

On this page

1. What it looks like
2. How to spot one
3. What to do
4. Already acted?
5. Similar scams

## What it looks like

An email

From to me

PayPal: You've been charged $499.99 for Bitcoin. If you didn't make this purchase, call our support at +1 555 0142.

A text from +1 555 0115

+1 555 0115

Text Message

Hi, is this Mark? We met at the conference last week.

A missed call from a foreign number that rang once

Missed call

Examples. The names and amounts change; the shape doesn't.

## How to spot one

1. **A number to call about a charge you didn't make.** The number is theirs. Whoever answers will ask for your card, a code, or to connect to your computer.
2. **A friendly “wrong number”.** It's often the start of a romance or investment scam.
3. **A missed call from a number you don't know,** especially from abroad. Calling back some numbers costs a lot per minute.
4. **Texts from short numbers you don't know** that ask you to reply or to add phone credit. Some charge your phone bill.
5. **Any reply shows them someone is there,** and they may try again.

## What to do

1. **Call only numbers you've found yourself.** On the official website, or a bill or card you already have, not in a message.
2. **Don't call or reply to messages you didn't expect.** If you need the company, find its number yourself. Block the number.
3. **Check your phone bill** for charges you didn't agree to. Your mobile provider can block these charges.
4. **Still not sure?** [Check the message](https://www.urlert.com/index.md). We open its link on a phone and a computer, not yours, and tell you what it is.
5. **Then delete it.** You can report it to your police or your country's fraud reporting service. Your phone may also let you report it as junk or spam. In the US and UK, you can also forward a scam text to 7726.

   [In the US: ReportFraud.ftc.gov (the FTC's website, opens in a new tab)](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/)

### Already called back or replied?

- [I replied or called](https://www.urlert.com/recover/replied.md)
- [I gave my card details](https://www.urlert.com/recover/card.md)
- [I let someone into my computer or phone](https://www.urlert.com/recover/remote.md)
- **Charges on your phone bill?** Call your mobile provider. Ask them to stop charges from this number and to block texts and calls that cost extra.

## Similar scams

- [How scams pretend](https://www.urlert.com/scams/how-scams-pretend.md)
- [Tech support pop-ups and calls](https://www.urlert.com/scams/tech-support.md)
- [Online romance](https://www.urlert.com/scams/online-romance.md)

On this page

1. What it looks like
2. How to spot one
3. What to do
4. Already acted?
5. Similar scams

[URLert home](https://www.urlert.com/index.md)

[About(opens in a new tab)](https://www.urlert.com/about.md) · [How we decide](https://www.urlert.com/how.md) · [Privacy](https://www.urlert.com/privacy.md) · [Terms](https://www.urlert.com/terms.md) · [For developers](https://www.urlert.com/developers.md) · [AI assistants](https://www.urlert.com/assistants.md)