Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Bit scared by What's App message I received

136 replies

Whatsappmessage · 17/03/2021 15:53

It's from a number I don't know, profile pic I don't recognise of just a man's face and says

"Thanks you for a card"

Then a message with the mobile number that has sent the message.

I blocked the number and didn't think much of it earlier as busy but since had a missed call from the number, (I didn't realise) and then picked up a call just now as expecting an important call which could have come from a mobile number. There was a delay and then the voice said "hello" and I realised which number it was so hung up and blocked.

It definitely feels like something dodgy and not just mistaken identity, I'm used to the odd spam call or text and don't think anything of it but this one has really weirded me out for some reason - has anyone had the same?

OP posts:
cerseii · 17/03/2021 17:20

I had a weird situation once. This guy blew my line up with hundreds of calls and texts wanting “Claire”, from a dozen different numbers. I think he was going up to random people in public and asking if he can use their phone to contact me, cause when I replied “wrong number” they would say “sorry he’s gone now”. Apparently he was just released from jail and was going through lots of ghetto drama.

Blocking was pointless as he would always come back with another number. In the end I sent a bitchy text saying Claire obv doesn’t want to talk to you and he actually got it and responded

Newnamefor2021 · 17/03/2021 17:24

@Whatsappmessage

Normally someone thanking for a card would say "thank you for the card" not "thanks you for a card", and normally someone messaging wouldn't send a message with their own number as there is no need, their number is included with their original message

When I answered there was a strange delay, and the voice was not a friendly hello like you were saying hello to a friend

Well if they were literate they would write like that but they may have additional needs which might also explain the wrong number. I think you have blocked the number and that's fine.

There could be a huge spectrum of possibilities, and while it sounds like it unnerved you, I don't think there is anything indicated in what you shared which should cause you anymore concern.

BarleyMop · 17/03/2021 17:26

This thread is ridiculous, as it most of the advice.

It’s probably a wrong number. In the event that it’s not, try and resist giving your bank details etc to the caller, and you’ll be fine. Confused

Whatsappmessage · 17/03/2021 17:31

Yes, everyone is right, probably a typo and probably wrong number! Anyway he hasn't replied but hopefully has found the person that sent the card, if not a scam

OP posts:
tolerable · 17/03/2021 17:32

type number into google reverse look up?

dontforgettofloss · 17/03/2021 17:34

Someone once accidentally added me to a cat group on what's app, they quickly realised their mistake and removed me, no idea who it was, but it only takes one wrong digit in a phone number

Whatsappmessage · 17/03/2021 17:41

The true recipient will probably find this thread now and be furious that I was accusing their friend/family of being a scammer

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 17/03/2021 17:43

You do realise some bloke somewhere is debating whether he should phone 101 because elderly aunt Janice phone seems to have been stolen and he can’t get to talk to her? 😂

Viviennemary · 17/03/2021 18:03

Somebody has the wrong number. I thought I was a jumper to bad conclusions. But it all sounds like an innocent mistake. Now that poor person wants to thank somebody for a card and thinks he was blocked.

bonfireheart · 17/03/2021 18:12

There was this amazing story on twitter a while ago where this guy added his plumber/tradesman to the family whatsapp group, mistakenly instead of his dad, whatsapp group went on for months, and it was only when the dad ASKED to be added did they realise that this guy had been silently reading reading messages and never saying it was him!

skeggycaggy · 17/03/2021 18:19

@bonfireheart

There was this amazing story on twitter a while ago where this guy added his plumber/tradesman to the family whatsapp group, mistakenly instead of his dad, whatsapp group went on for months, and it was only when the dad ASKED to be added did they realise that this guy had been silently reading reading messages and never saying it was him!
Oh yeah! That made me laugh out loud.
Whatsappmessage · 17/03/2021 18:19

Yes, I really don't know why I was worried or what I was really worried about! Anyway as I've messaged him he'll know that whoever it was hasn't blocked him, if it was genuine

OP posts:
Alternista · 17/03/2021 18:43

Once every year or two I get a text from a guy who thinks he had a torrid affair with me years ago wondering if I’d like to meet up.

I haven't had a torrid affair, and I’ve had this number for 25 years.

I never reply. I like to imagine I’m somehow protecting their marriages 😂

oakleaffy · 17/03/2021 18:51

@Whatsappmessage
Google what happened.
Others may have had the same.
I had a sexploitation email from when there was a data breach on social media-
It wanted money and lots of it or they would send the split screen video of me watching porn and self pleasuring to all my contacts.

I don’t watch porn, so knew it was a scam, and googled... sure enough, a known scam.

toocold54 · 17/03/2021 18:54

Personally I would tell him where to fck off too and block him*

Or you could just let them know they’ve got the wrong number or just block without the rudeness Confused

toocold54 · 17/03/2021 18:56

Once every year or two I get a text from a guy who thinks he had a torrid affair with me years ago wondering if I’d like to meet up.

I haven't had a torrid affair, and I’ve had this number for 25 years.

I never reply. I like to imagine I’m somehow protecting their marriages

I would NEED to reply to find out more Grin

MiriamMargo · 17/03/2021 18:58

@ChonkyChook

999 Now.
Are you really. Whats the emergency !!
clpsmum · 17/03/2021 19:08

Why don't you just phone and ask who it is and what they want?

SionnachGlic · 17/03/2021 19:21

You are overthinking this OP...likely it was a wrong no but you've blocked now anyway. Stop worrying....it's not like you gave him your bank account information. If you are concerned about youtlr ph's security...call your service provider or drop into a phone store & get them to check it.

rosegoldwatcher · 17/03/2021 19:35

I get several missed phone calls each week, from random places overseas (that my ii-phone identifies as) Zanzibar, Guatemala, Mozambique etc.
None of the calls lasts more than 30 seconds.

Have never responded as I know no-one living in these places.
Assume them to be some sort of scam.

espressoontap · 17/03/2021 19:44

Why do people think the 999 comment is serious?! 😂

espressoontap · 17/03/2021 19:45

I had a missed call from someone with the same no but one digit out as me. I blocked it.

Whatsappmessage · 17/03/2021 19:48

I can't tell you how ridiculous I feel now 😂 nothing more to the tale as he hasn't replied.

I have a hugely stressful thing coming up soon and a lot of worry about that, I think combined with lockdown it's sent me a bit loopy!

OP posts:
toocold54 · 17/03/2021 20:10

I have a hugely stressful thing coming up soon and a lot of worry about that, I think combined with lockdown it's sent me a bit loopy!

GrinGrin I think lockdown has gotten to all of us don’t worry and I’ve definitely read loopier things on here!
I hope your stressful thing goes well.

itsgettingwierd · 17/03/2021 20:12

It's possible someone wrote the wrong number in the card.

It's easily done.