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Original poster

"Hi Mum" scam alert....

75 replies

Summerhouse2013 · 20/11/2022 17:27

Please be aware of the latest mobile phone scam...

My son is at Uni, I received a text message from a random number saying "Hi mum, i've smashed my phone (he has done this in the past to be honest), i'm calling from a friend's mobile but it's about die, here is my new number, can you whatsapp message me on it"

I sent a message, asked if he was ok. A few messages backward & forwards & then he said he was stressed because he couldn't pay some bills that day as the bank had frozen his account, he would pay me back in 2 days. He then said he would send his bank details to me, which I knew was odd as I know his bank details as we pay him some money every month.

I then texted this new number and said "Hi son, have seen a few of these new scams going around regarding mobiles, can we have a quick chat to make sure it's you that is texting me" I had no reply despite calling a few times & I could see the person was online....

Please be careful folks....it was only a programme on the TV a few weeks ago that alerted me to this.....

OP posts:
Alacarde · 20/11/2022 17:29

Well done for spotting this, OP.

Hellocatshome · 20/11/2022 17:29

I had one of these, I was alerted to the fact it was a scam based on both my sons being sat with me at the time along with the fact if they sent it at least 1 word would have been spelt incorrectly.

LubaLuca · 20/11/2022 17:32

I received this, and my husband too. I knew none of my kids would have my number memorised, so knew it was some kind of a scam. I blocked the number.

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lobsterkiller · 20/11/2022 17:33

Yeah, got the sane a few weeks ago, I don't have children. Told the scammy bastards to fuck off.

Original poster
Summerhouse2013 · 20/11/2022 17:36

Alacarde · 20/11/2022 17:29

Well done for spotting this, OP.

I can't take the credit, I wouldn't have sent money anyway because it was odd, but it was this TV morning show that highlighted it for me to be cautious 😑

OP posts:
Greytea · 20/11/2022 17:37

My Dh got one, with the addition that the phone had been dropped down the loo. I knew immediately it was wrong but he wasn’t sure. message said Hi Mum/Dad. And that was odd, as our child wouldn’t have written that. It was only to DH, so child wouldn’t have written Mum.

BookedOut · 20/11/2022 17:37

I got one of these - ignored and blocked. My dd would have (has!) asked one of her friends to text me from their phone if hers is out of battery, she couldn’t afford to buy a new phone straight away if she smashed hers!

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 20/11/2022 17:48

Is this different to the Hi mum/Hi dad messges that have been doing the rounds for ages?

The media did a really good job of spreading the word about that one, I remember it literally seemed to be on every page I looked at at one time.

Alacarde · 20/11/2022 17:50

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 20/11/2022 17:48

Is this different to the Hi mum/Hi dad messges that have been doing the rounds for ages?

The media did a really good job of spreading the word about that one, I remember it literally seemed to be on every page I looked at at one time.

I think it started on WhatsApp but has now migrated to normal text messages.

BMW6 · 20/11/2022 17:51

I'd love to get one so I can have a little mess with the scammy cunt.

MrsJackGrealish · 20/11/2022 17:54

I had one in normal messages from DD. She was upstairs in her room at the time.

mondaytosunday · 20/11/2022 19:06

Its been around for a while! Always call and speak to the person on their OLD phone number or at least text to check.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 20/11/2022 19:25

Alacarde · 20/11/2022 17:50

I think it started on WhatsApp but has now migrated to normal text messages.

Show quote history

I didn't know the previous warnings were only about whatsapp, I suppose I assumed they applied however the message was sent

My phone doesn't tell me if the other person is online when I'm sending a text, is that an iPhone only thing?

CherrySocks · 20/11/2022 19:34

I had it, promptly messaged both offspring on their actual usual phones, got two replies saying it wasn't them it must be a scam, resisted impulse to reply to scammer, ignored.

TonTonMacoute · 20/11/2022 19:34

I got this a few weeks ago, but was able to contact DS another way to check.

These evil bastards know exactly how to press all your emotional buttons, even though you know immediately that it’s a scam.

MissMogwai · 20/11/2022 19:46

I had this last week at bloody 4am.
I do have older teen/early 20's DC, one of whom doesn't live at home now and the other wasn't in, so if I hadn't heard of the scam I'd have been concerned.

I googled the number to make sure anyway. Horrible twats - always thinking of another way to con people.

missv556 · 20/11/2022 20:17

I got this yesterday. I just assumed someone had texted the wrong number so I ignored it and blocked so they wouldn't keep trying to contact. Cos it couldnt have been my son as he's only 4 months old lol didn't realise it was a scam

bloodywhitecat · 20/11/2022 20:19

I had one of these the other day, the only problem was it was to a number that neither of my kids would know, it's a number that only I and one other person know.

TheCityIgnites · 20/11/2022 20:20

I’ve had two recently which is pretty amazing since my son is 16 months old and asleep at the time! 😆

Vargas · 20/11/2022 20:20

I had one, knew it's was a scam instantly as there was an 'x' at the end. 😂

NewNovember · 20/11/2022 20:20

Otherwise known as the "how stupid can you actually be" scam.

Alacarde · 20/11/2022 20:22

TheCityIgnites · 20/11/2022 20:20

I’ve had two recently which is pretty amazing since my son is 16 months old and asleep at the time! 😆

Amazing! You have a child prodigy - since you put him to bed he's learned to text Grin

Tezza1 · 20/11/2022 20:24

A stupid question here: I'm not in the UK, so things are probably completely different, but if you get a new phone can't you just stick your SIM card into the new phone, or if you have to get a new Sim card, simply port (or whatever it's called) your old number do the new phone?

PauliString · 20/11/2022 20:26

I had a genuine message from my son telling me he’d bought a new SIM card with new number. He was on his year abroad at the time and I just assumed it was a scam and ignored him, poor kid.

Alacarde · 20/11/2022 20:27

Tezza1 · 20/11/2022 20:24

A stupid question here: I'm not in the UK, so things are probably completely different, but if you get a new phone can't you just stick your SIM card into the new phone, or if you have to get a new Sim card, simply port (or whatever it's called) your old number do the new phone?

You can swap the sim if the new phone isn't locked to a different network. You can port a number to a new sim but it isn't instant.