{"id":4417,"date":"2026-09-02T23:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T23:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/information-systems\/?p=4417"},"modified":"2026-09-02T23:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T23:06:02","slug":"your-polite-reply-is-worth-more-than-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/information-systems\/2026\/09\/02\/your-polite-reply-is-worth-more-than-you-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Polite Reply Is Worth More Than You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we begin a new academic year, this may feel like an unusual message to hear from me. Usually, back-to-school notes are about passwords, phishing, software updates, or the latest thing trying to impersonate your dean. This one starts with something much smaller: a text from someone who appears to have the wrong number.<\/span><\/p>\n

It might say, \u201cAre we still meeting for lunch?\u201d or \u201cSorry, I think I have the wrong number.\u201d A polite \u201cwrong number\u201d reply may feel harmless, but to a scammer, it can confirm something valuable: a real person is reading and willing to respond.<\/span><\/p>\n

These messages are often the first step in long-running confidence scams, including \u201cPig Butchering<\/a><\/span>,\u201d where criminals build trust before steering victims toward fake investments, cryptocurrency platforms, job offers, or other financial traps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why a Reply Matters<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scammers may already know your number exists. What they want to know is whether someone on the other end reads quickly, responds politely, and is open to engaging with a stranger.<\/span><\/p>\n

One quick reply can mark your number as active and responsive. That does not mean you have been hacked, but it can make you a better target for future scams.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Happens Next<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

After the first reply, scammers usually take one of two paths.<\/span><\/p>\n