To think this is a scam

KateMiddletonsExtensions · 2024-06-04T23:42:42+00:00

Received a text saying "Hi Kate, just to let you know my new mobile number, speak soon xx" No sign off. How am I expected to know who it is? Am I bloody psychic? Or is it a scam? I put the number in whocalledme.com but nothing came up. Has anyone else received a message like this? I've blocked it but screenshotted the text and number for future reference.

GrannyRose15 · 08/06/2024 19:38

It’s always better to treat these calls as a scam even if there is some doubt. Better safe than sorry. And a genuine friend will always try again to contact you.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 08/06/2024 14:11

Lyraloo · 08/06/2024 09:36

Op’s name is Kate!

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And I replied as to why I misread it.

Lyraloo · 08/06/2024 09:36

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 05/06/2024 00:45

Do you know any Kate’s at all? Otherwise I would presume someone just misdialled the number when updating their new phone/SIM card. - it is possible they had to tap in all their contacts and where unable to transfer data via the cloud /system backup.

Op’s name is Kate!

Hb7x3 · 07/06/2024 22:38

I haven't read all the replies, so sorry if someone has already suggested this...

If I get a text from an unknown number, I add the number to my contacts and then go onto WhatsApp to see if they have a profile picture

Original poster

KateMiddletonsExtensions · 07/06/2024 22:32

@GrannyRose15 I've got better things to do with my time than make up scam posts

OP posts:

GrannyRose15 · 07/06/2024 13:15

This reply has been deleted

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BarcardiWithGadaffia · 07/06/2024 12:49

GrannyRose15 · 07/06/2024 09:25

It’s a scam. Delete it immediately. It’s very like the one I get regularly which starts Hi Mum. As I have three children I know none of them would call me from a strange phone without identifying themselves.

How did the scammer persuade her friend and the police to go along with it?

Ohnobackagain · 07/06/2024 10:13

@KateMiddletonsExtensions I had this a week or so ago and embarrassingly it was someone I know well but hadn’t heard of in a while - me asking who it is got me a hairdryer response. So I would ask who it is and see what the response is just in case. For confirmation you could say ‘ok, so I know it’s you please tell me your old number and some personal detail about me that only you and I could know’.

GrannyRose15 · 07/06/2024 09:25

It’s a scam. Delete it immediately. It’s very like the one I get regularly which starts Hi Mum. As I have three children I know none of them would call me from a strange phone without identifying themselves.

burnoutbabe · 07/06/2024 08:22

Darren brown did a similar trick.

(To people saying you'd send a random text to Kate hoping you'd get a Kate)

He found people he could predict horse races results for. Which was amazing. Until you realise he had actually sent out thousands of predictions to only show us the 1 person he got them all correct for. Mind blown that he went to that much effort for the trick!

Now that was a tv show. A scammer is highly unlikely to try a dear Kate scam over the much more popular mum. Which may apply to over 50% of adult women rather than less than 1%.

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 08:22

KateMiddletonsExtensions · 07/06/2024 07:55

You think her name is really Jane Smith? And if it really was, I'd give any Mumsnetter £1000 if they found out who she is. But I know you're having some Friday morning fun with this post 😆

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Joking on it :-) this thread went beyond I expected :-) I am surprised by number of people who misread your post... good you sorted out, sorry for the circumstances... but next time you probably will not call the police again :-)

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 07/06/2024 08:06

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 07:41

But you know what, you were so worried you didn't want to call back, but you shared your friend's name in full. Instead you could put initials only. Bit unfair, don't you think?

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Yes, how embarrassing for all the Jane Smiths who might have forgotten to sign off a text 😂

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 08:04

SpindleyDindley · 05/06/2024 22:48

It's worrying how many people think this is probably legit because they know your name.

Treat ALL unknown numbers as scams unless you can speak to the person and verify with absolute certainty who they are.

I would be ignoring the text. If genuine they would have signed it off with a name for starters. What prat is going to text you about a new number and not provide their name?

Edited

The one who forgot! And I was right from the beginning. It was not a scam. Even happened to me before. Was not a scam either.

BitOutOfPractice · 07/06/2024 08:03

You’ve changed your locks haven’t you @KateMiddletonsExtensions? For a 3* cylinder?

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 07:57

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 05/06/2024 13:00

So in this specific case op messages back and the scammer says they are "name of actual friend" what would be the next step in the scam that she would fall for?

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It's not that hard... Just ask a question only that person will know the answer on. Then after the second message you know.

Original poster

KateMiddletonsExtensions · 07/06/2024 07:55

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 07:41

But you know what, you were so worried you didn't want to call back, but you shared your friend's name in full. Instead you could put initials only. Bit unfair, don't you think?

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You think her name is really Jane Smith? And if it really was, I'd give any Mumsnetter £1000 if they found out who she is. But I know you're having some Friday morning fun with this post 😆

OP posts:

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 07:41

KateMiddletonsExtensions · 05/06/2024 10:12

The police officer rang me back and asked if I knew Jane Smith. She's my best mate. I rang her on the number and spoke to her.

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But you know what, you were so worried you didn't want to call back, but you shared your friend's name in full. Instead you could put initials only. Bit unfair, don't you think?

buma · 07/06/2024 07:12

Put the phone number in on WhatsApp and if they will have a profile pic which will help to narrow it down!

Citrusandginger · 07/06/2024 07:08

As has been mentioned, a reply confirms to a scammer that the number is active - cue endless scam calls and texts because OP will go onto a 'potential suckers' list.

This.

There is no need to send out "this is my new number" messages on WhatsApp. You can just change the phone number on your WhatsApp account and continue as normal.

of course it's a scam. All these kind of messages are. They're designed to get you to engage. I'm surprised how many people aren't wise to this.

And also this.

Ignore and move on. If its genuine your friend will get in touch.
If it's a scam, you haven't engaged with it.

You don't owe anyone who sends an unsolicited message anything.

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 07/06/2024 06:58

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 06:55

I get that, but that is how she would've missed her friend's new phone number... I would never go to the police though (but I do understand she went due to the circumstances), but I would've ask. I'm probably on the sucker list, as I'm receiving calls every day, but I just stopped picking up my phone.

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I'd take the view that if it was genuine, the friend would find another way of contacting me (or else it's not a very strong friendship, so no great loss).

Mayana1 · 07/06/2024 06:55

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 06/06/2024 20:23

No, because if she goes onto a suckers list she will get calls from dozens of different spoofed numbers.

It's resolved now for the OP, but my advice not to respond at all still stands.

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I get that, but that is how she would've missed her friend's new phone number... I would never go to the police though (but I do understand she went due to the circumstances), but I would've ask. I'm probably on the sucker list, as I'm receiving calls every day, but I just stopped picking up my phone.

MyTherapistSaidImAnAdult · 06/06/2024 23:31

When I get messages like this I save number to phone under a random name and look them up to see if they have a WhatsApp picture....

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 06/06/2024 22:35

Mayana1 · 06/06/2024 20:11

It says: "Hi, Kate...." means her name is Kate, not sender's.

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Sorry having a shit day and trying to distract myself from Dh news he is dying.

Mayana1 · 06/06/2024 21:26

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 05/06/2024 09:43

Yes, almost certainly a scam, and especially if you don't know a Kate. I get this kind of thing probably a couple of times a month, but I get. 'hi mum. It's your favourite son here, this is my new number, I got water in my old phone!'

Well, I've just got one daughter - and NO sons, and my DD most definitely calls me mom, not mum. So I think 'nice try.'

I also have quite a few messages, - maybe two or three a month - trying to scam me into clicking on a link for a package that Amazon tried to deliver, and I need to pay 2 pounds to get it redelivered (and I have to put my bank details in obvs.) I also get the HMRC scam, usually in the form of a phone call. I just hang up.

I don't trust a soul in this world (apart from DH and DD,) and I am very, very suspicious of everybody. So I'm highly unlikely to ever fall for a scam. I mean, I can't say it would never happen, but I don't think it would.

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Ohhh, how illiterate the people are. Kate is the OP not a sender. And it was not a scam, but her friend. Just need to ask due to your comment- are you able to read?

Mayana1 · 06/06/2024 20:27

Katemax82 · 05/06/2024 07:29

Save the number to contacts then see if they have a WhatsApp profile

That's exactly what I've done when I received a text like this. It was genuine though.