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Original poster

Emergency SOS text received, from a person I knew 15 yrs ago but not met since 2011

183 replies

piddocktrumperiness · 27/03/2023 22:21

I received an SOS text from Apple, with a location of someone I knew 15 yrs ago. We worked together in a call centre but have not been in touch since 2011 and I didn't have her number stored on my phone. I looked up the number on WhatsApp- the photo matches the person. Location matches where she lives.

I initially thought it was a scam but thought best be safe- called her number, no answer, left a message on her voicemail. I sent her a WhatsApp too.

Have I been scammed? I've never heard or seen of this type of message before but what flagged up my doubt is that it said I was contacted as I'm listed as an emergency contact- which I know can't be true. I do wonder if my name was accessible from contact list due to my surname or first name.

Have I done something stupid here? anyone else experience this?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Yesiamtiredactually · 28/03/2023 07:42

The only kind of “scam” I can think of is the kind of absolutely terrifying one where somebody dreadful is wanting to get somebody to come to a location for horrible reasons. This feels very unlikely though! I hope everything is ok and you hear from your friend very soon!

NoNeedToArgue · 28/03/2023 07:48

Yesiamtiredactually · 28/03/2023 07:42

The only kind of “scam” I can think of is the kind of absolutely terrifying one where somebody dreadful is wanting to get somebody to come to a location for horrible reasons. This feels very unlikely though! I hope everything is ok and you hear from your friend very soon!

Many scams are based on making you worry or concerned about someone's welfare.

KillingLoneliness · 28/03/2023 07:48

MarshaBradyo · 28/03/2023 07:27

How easy is it to do this call by accident?

Myself and DH have an Apple Watch with this enabled, it has gone off occasionally but it asks if we want to send for help and you have to confirm it.
If doing it on the phone you have to purposely use the emergency service on the phone which will call them, after that a text goes out to your emergency contacts so it’s not particularly easy to accidentally do it.

Original poster
piddocktrumperiness · 28/03/2023 07:48

Morning everyone
No update yet. The whatsapp I sent her last night was not read; 2 grey ticks. I've not heard from her as of yet.

In all honesty when I contacted the police I was expecting them to shove me off and say it was a silly message that many have been experiencing but they were taking it seriously and said they were going to send 2 officers out.

I received the text at 9pm last night and called her a little bit after. As I said no response. It's just before 8am now- still no response.

I am thinking she may have lost her phone or the battery went as apparently the Apple emergency thing sends out a follow up message if and when the person changes location. I've not received a follow up and the location is the same as it was from last night.

OP posts:
BreatheAndFocus · 28/03/2023 07:53

You did the right thing. Unless it’s an obvious scam, then you have to assume the message is genuine and act accordingly. Imagine if it was genuine and people receiving the text just shrugged their shoulders and said it was a scam while the phone owner lay seriously injured 😧

Hopefully it was accidental and your friend’s ok.

WimpoleHat · 28/03/2023 07:59

My husband got one of those from me; my old Apple phone was very easy to “set off” in a handbag and I had (I’m ashamed to say!) a call from the police on a couple of occasions because my phone had made its own emergency call. (It was something like hitting the side button several times in succession that did it, which I’d managed to do by accident inside my handbag. I don’t have the problem with the new phone, so maybe this is the new “thing” rather than it alerting the police?). I think you did the right thing to call 101, OP - at least your mind is at rest that you alerted someone that there might be a problem. Hope it is just one of those handbag incidents for your old contact.

ItsRainingPens · 28/03/2023 08:05

This happened to me a couple of times with a friend. It is a genuine feature of the phone. Luckily, in her case, they were false alarms.
iWatches can do this too, as others have said, they can monitor for falls and also detect heart rate.
I hope your friend is OK

dawngreen · 28/03/2023 08:06

Maybe kids have found her phone?

BestBeforeDatex · 28/03/2023 08:11

@Glitteratitar well, Im not the only one who doesn't know how, can you tell how please? :)

BestBeforeDatex · 28/03/2023 08:12

@Glitteratitar I meant to put, I'm glad I'm not the only one*

NerrSnerr · 28/03/2023 08:14

Redebs · 28/03/2023 01:41

Her contacts list has been hacked and they have sent messages to everyone on it. Scam. Just block the number.

What is the outcome of the scam? What do they have to gain? They haven't asked for any money or responded when she messaged?

Starlightstarbright1 · 28/03/2023 08:17

Hopefully all fine

slowquickstep · 28/03/2023 08:29

Hopefully she is ok, you must be so worried

chanceofpear · 28/03/2023 08:40

My daughter accidentally sent an sos messsage to half her contacts once. She just has you in her contacts list.

OnlyFannys · 28/03/2023 08:58

Hopefully it was just an accident but I'm glad the police are taking it seriously and checking

kittensinthekitchen · 28/03/2023 08:59

Do emergency contacts follow phone settings or sim card or account settings?

I would have assumed it was something that was specifically set up for that handset? OP hasn't seen their friend since 2011, so if that's the case, is it really likely that the friend has continued to list a not so close friend as SOS contact, or has had the same handset for a decade??

Ostryga · 28/03/2023 09:07

kittensinthekitchen · 28/03/2023 08:59

Do emergency contacts follow phone settings or sim card or account settings?

I would have assumed it was something that was specifically set up for that handset? OP hasn't seen their friend since 2011, so if that's the case, is it really likely that the friend has continued to list a not so close friend as SOS contact, or has had the same handset for a decade??

Yes when you set up a new iPhone you transfer all the data across, so emergency contacts will stay the same unless you manually edit them.

ScottBakula · 28/03/2023 09:08

My DB Samsung android has this too and I have received sos msgs and photos from him by accident.

@piddocktrumperiness I hope your friend is ok ans she gets back in touch with you soon .

OrlandointheWilderness · 28/03/2023 09:09

Hope everything is okay. It is very strange but definitely a good thing to follow it up.

diddl · 28/03/2023 09:14

Perhaps people were thinking scam because the Op doubts that she would have been an emergency contact?

Nailsandthesea · 28/03/2023 09:14

Sounds like that is the best thing - in the hands of the police

Catspyjamas17 · 28/03/2023 09:22

Two grey ticks doesn't mean unread. Depends on the individual's WhatsApp settings.

Notaclue252 · 28/03/2023 09:40

Dear Subscriber,

Criminals are targeting WhatsApp users by posing as a friend and asking for a security code.* *Action Fraud has received over 60 reports relating to this scam.

The scam begins when a criminal gets access to another WhatsApp account which has you listed as a contact.

The criminal, posing as your friend or someone that’s a member of a WhatsApp group you’re in, will then send you seemingly normal messages to try and start a conversation with you. However, around the same time you will receive a text message from WhatsApp with a six-digit code. This is because the criminal has been trying to login to WhatsApp using your mobile number. The criminal will claim that they sent you their code by accident and ask you to help them by sending it to them. Once the criminal has this code, they can login to your WhatsApp account and lock you out.

The criminal will then use the same tactic with your WhatsApp contacts in an effort to steal more accounts and use them to perpetrate fraud.

What you need to do:
Set up two-step verification to give an extra layer of protection to your account: Tap Settings > Account >Two-step verification > Enable.

THINK. CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person to confirm their identity.

Never share your account’s activation code (that’s the 6 digit code you receive via SMS)

You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.

If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to Action Fraudor 123 2040 0300 123 2040.

Clovacloud · 28/03/2023 09:45

Hope you friend is ok and well done for calling the police.

I had one from my Dad’s Apple Watch when his dog took him off his feet - collies and 76 year old men aren’t a great mix! We found him quickly and thankfully he was just winded.

All the people on here saying ‘scam’ well let’s hope none of your friends and family have you as their emergency contacts.