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Original poster

Scam - Hi Mum

145 replies

Vapeyvapevape · 17/09/2022 22:33

I've just had a WhatsApp message from a number I don't know with my daughters name on it saying she dropped her phone down the loo and is now using this new number . I sent a couple of messages back and got no reply .
I called my daughters original number and she hasn't dropped her phone down the loo !
Has anyone else had this ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 18/09/2022 00:22

Novum · 18/09/2022 00:16

What story do they give to justify the fact that your dd wants the money sent to a stranger's account?

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Apparently it's the person who they bought the laptop from. I kept asking how come an individual uses Afterpay but they didn't answer that question.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 18/09/2022 00:29

Antarcticant · 18/09/2022 00:16

Now is the time to suddenly 'become' chronically dimwitted and ask them to clarify every single instruction to the nth degree.

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Brilliant 🤣 I told them I couldn't remember my log in details and to hang on while I ask dad , who also couldn't remember them. Then I did lots of 'wondering' if it's our usual password or did I change it to the one we use for Sainsburys online shopping.

OP posts:
Antarcticant · 18/09/2022 00:38

Vapeyvapevape · 18/09/2022 00:29

Brilliant 🤣 I told them I couldn't remember my log in details and to hang on while I ask dad , who also couldn't remember them. Then I did lots of 'wondering' if it's our usual password or did I change it to the one we use for Sainsburys online shopping.

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😂

MadisonAvenue · 18/09/2022 00:40

I had this yesterday, about a smashed phone, but knew it wasn’t genuine straight away as it said Hi Mum - we’re in the West Midlands and I’m known as Mom to my sons.

ItsnotaHenryMoore · 18/09/2022 00:41

VladmirsPoutine · 17/09/2022 23:00

I have to admit that I absolutely LOVE wasting their time. I send back messages talking as though I'm talking to my daughter/son and drop in random names of non-existent family like"Did you remember to wish your aunt Mildred a happy birthday?" Grin
Question to those who know someone who was scammed via this route, did the bank reimburse the money without much fuss?

Oh me too. I had one from someone pretending to be a Facebook friend. I asked them how their husband was and when assured he was fine, said 'that's funny, didnt he die 30 years ago? Or did you forget?...

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 18/09/2022 00:50

MadisonAvenue · 18/09/2022 00:40

I had this yesterday, about a smashed phone, but knew it wasn’t genuine straight away as it said Hi Mum - we’re in the West Midlands and I’m known as Mom to my sons.

I'm normally pretty good with scam emails but because this was from my 'daughter' my common sense went out the window . Especially as they said they'd lost all their photos because the phone was broken, my daughter and I were literally saying earlier today about photos and videos of her dad on her phone and how they're so precious. I was immediately trying to think of how 'they 'could save them and so it being a scam didn't enter my head at first.

OP posts:
Armadillidium · 18/09/2022 01:11

I got this several nights ago. My dd calls me something other than mum so I knew it wasn’t her (a couple of typos too) but I warned my mum and sister about it just in case.

howaboutchocolate · 18/09/2022 03:48

Vapeyvapevape · 17/09/2022 23:32

This is the message I got .

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I don't really understand this scam. If they've already got a new number and they're texting you off it, why do they need money for a new phone. Wouldn't it be better for them to say they're texting from a friend's phone? And they've just magically memorised your number (how many people know their parents mobile number by heart).

pinkbear95 · 18/09/2022 04:17

SpiderinaWingMirror · 17/09/2022 22:50

Blimey, how many people just send their kids £1500 if they message saying they have dropped their phone?

I was thinking the same thing.

Plus why would you just send money to a completely different bank account to the one you have of your child (adult or not). Doesn’t really make sense

georgarina · 18/09/2022 04:19

This happened to my cousin
She immediately texted back 'Hi (DD) what's wrong?' and transferred the money 🤦‍♀️

georgarina · 18/09/2022 04:21

Oh and the money was to a new account because it was 'money owed' that she couldn't pay now she had broken her phone, and she was in a state (so said the messages. Cousin's DD is in her thirties!!)

Nancydrawn · 18/09/2022 04:57

OP, this is slightly off topic, but your daughter should absolutely back up the files with her dad's voice! This might be nonsense, but it's not unknown for a teenager (?) to lose her phone, and that would be horribly sad.

Rosehugger · 18/09/2022 05:03

My DM replied to this on two separate occasions but didn't get to the stage of transferring money. I really hate this scam in particular.

Furries · 18/09/2022 05:17

I hate these scammers with a passion. I’m constantly reminding my mum of various scams going around.

I am, however, open to being adopted by posters who almost fell for sending their kids £x thousands.

If my mum received a request like that, she’d be straight on the phone asking if I was on glue!

Irridescantshimmmer · 18/09/2022 06:00

I think the scammers must be getting the names of teens/children from social media.

Its pretty horrendous, it needs more awareness so less people will fall for it.

ladydoris · 18/09/2022 06:05

I had a similar message saying my daughter broke her phone and was at a friend's house with her new phone. All my kids were accounted for...

bevelino · 18/09/2022 06:17

SafeHeaven · 17/09/2022 22:41

How do they know your daughters name?

The scammers don’t mention the name of dc in the message and it starts with hi mum. I received the text last Wednesday and knew it was fake immediately.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/09/2022 06:47

Glad you didn’t fall for this. I think your should back the videos up in the cloud. She can also airdrop / send them to you.

Vampirethriller · 18/09/2022 06:57

I had it not long ago, but as my only child is 3 they didn't get very far!
A friend's mother had it and nearly fell for it though- she's in her 70s and not at all technical.

WorriedMillie · 18/09/2022 07:05

I’ve had it, DD is 9 and doesn’t have a phone, so I sussed it immediately

I have forewarned my mum though and must do the same with MIL!

MrsLargeEmbodied · 18/09/2022 07:29

yes i did,
i realised very quickly it wasnt dd

DancingBudgie · 18/09/2022 07:33

I had this a few weeks ago.
I decided to have a bit of fun so I replied with a text saying ' can't you replace it out of the 10k monthly allowance that your father and I give you?
This must have got them in a frenzy of excitement as they text back asking if they could have next month's allowance today as they desperately needed to buy a new iPhone.
I managed to keep it going for almost a week before I got bored and blocked them.

KangarooKenny · 18/09/2022 07:34

Yep. I had it but recognised it as a well known scam.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 18/09/2022 07:41

mine said i dropped my phone, the touchscreendidnt respond any more, and when i asked how they were, i'm having a bit of a situation to be honest
so i called her on her actual number and she answered!
but unnerving

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 18/09/2022 07:41

Vapeyvapevape · 17/09/2022 22:51

Actually, thinking about it, it might not have had her name on it . I saw the message and saved it under Daughter New Number so all the messages now have her name on . I was a bit panicked because she (scammers) said they'd lost all the photos and videos which meant dd lost the video where her dad says her name for the last time.

Make sure she backs up everything on her phone regularly. She might really drop it a sink one day!