Malicious texts - urgent advice appreciated

[mablemurple]

DD has come downstairs absolutely distraught, having received some text messages that have frightened her. From what I can gather, it appears that someone has got hold of her phone this afternoon (she was at a club and her phone was left unattended) and has sent 13 texts to another girl (who dd does not know), pretending to be a boy, asking for sex, generally harrassing her by not identifying who it was who was texting. Obviously, this is horrid for the girl receiving the texts, and she sent a text to dd's phone, saying her dad has seen the texts and is threatening to get "someone" involved. There is also a voicemail, but we can't seem to retrieve it. DD is beside herself with terror, and it has taken me a good hour to calm her down.

DD thinks she knows who might have sent the texts - it is another girl who she knows vaguely from the same club, who is one year older than her (dd is 11) who apparently was prank texting some girl but then ran out of credit. DD did not lend this girl her phone, but said the girl did go to the toilet at some point during the afternoon session, during which time she could have got hold of dd's phone. All the texts were sent during a short time span.

I don't really know how to handle this? It is too late to call the girl receiving the texts - should we do this tomorrow and explain what has happened (without implicating the other girl as we do not know for certain that it was her sending the texts). I want to speak to this girl at the club, but am afraid it might be a bit intimidating for her - she does not know me and I do not know her. Also, if this girl is as unpleasant as she seems from the texts, she could make it awkward for dd at the club. We need to do something, I think, just in case these texts are traced back to dd's phone. WWYD?

For dealing with the girl at the club I would suggest going to the club leader and explaining the situation, let them get to the bottom of it.

I think I would ring the phone in the morning, you, not your DD and explain to the childs parents what had happened, just to reassure them it is not an issue and their child has no reason to be afraid

Ok first of all turn off the ph and tell your DD that this person does not know who she is or know where she lives so she is safe. You have a COUPLE OF CHOICE
If the threats to your DD are of a worrying nature you can ring the non emergency police ph line and ask for advice? Was the other poor girl threatened, bullied [it seems like spiteful bullying behaviour to me] and it needs to be dealt with.
Your other choice is to do nothing to night and contact the people who run the club and inform them of what is happening and see what they advise
Or you can contact the parents of the Child who received the ph calls and explain what has happened.
But first go give your poor DD a hug and tell her it will be all right.

I would contact in but also think you should be teaching your dd about leaving her phone lying about!
I would call this girl in the morning and speak to her parents and explain that someone has sent these messages to her via dd phone but without her consent. Make it clear that your dd is very sorry, as are you and hope they are understanding.

I would also call tomorrow.

Perhaps from a home phone rather than your Daughters. The poor girl being harrassed will probably be reluctant to answer from the number that has been texting her.

Explain to them what has happened and that you are happy to help them get to the bottom of this.
I would then contact the club and explain what has happened and give your daughters suspicions to them. I wouldn't mention names to the parents of the other girl. You don't know how they are likely to react and your daughters suspicions may be wrong.

Hopefully this will help both your daughter and this girl feel a little safer.

Depends what time you received the last text. The girl who received the awful texts may be very worried and scared,therefore you should really text or call her to reassure her that it was a hoax of some kind. Otherwise poor girl and family may spend all night worrying?

Just to add, Until you are certain that the other family are calm and understanding don't give your Daughters name or details.

Thank you all for your replies. Definitely a better idea to speak to the organiser of the club, and I will do that tomorrow when I take dd there. I had also thought about calling the poor girl receiving the texts from our landline and asking to speak to her parents, so I'm pleased that wasn't a bizarre idea!
Lisad123 - I think dd has learnt a lot tonight! She is very trusting and I hope this has taught her that not everyone is as they appear on the surface. Canyou, rest assured that DD has definitely been given a load of hugs and reassured that nothing will happen to her; she was terrified she would be arrested and put into prison .

Yes, actually whinging is right, first and foremost maintain your own safety. I would text, just saying really sorry my phone was used without my knowledge to this number, nothing to do with us etc

Mince, on balance, I think it would be more worrying for the girl to receive a call at this time - it took such a long time to calm dd down, it was then too late to do anything about it. The texts that were sent weren't threatening as such, just unpleasant and anonymous, so I hope the poor girl has been able to get to sleep.
Whinging, yes I hope the parents are reasonable, I will not be giving them any further details than they already have. Also intend to get dd a new sim card, so her existing number will no longer be in use.

Thanks again for everyone's responses.