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Original poster

Scam text 'from' child

47 replies

ImAvingOops · 28/04/2023 22:21

Just had a weird text that started 'hey mum' which is how my kids would start a text. Then claimed to be using an iPad to message because they've changed provider and asking me to reply so they can add me to their contacts.
Obviously a scam, but I was thrown for a minute because of the 'hey mum' intro.

Just wanted to warn anyone who isn't yet aware that texts can sound just like one of your kids!
Not sure how they got the number or if I'm supposed to do anything security wise now. But it's quite disconcerting.

OP posts:
biehrvduevr · 28/04/2023 22:23

Yeah loads of these going around unfortunately. Just block and delete.

my daughter had one (15yo!) started exactly the same way ‘her mum’.

whiteroseredrose · 28/04/2023 22:25

Mine said that they had a new phone, which is a laugh because I buy their phones.

Hellocatshome · 28/04/2023 22:31

I had one, knew it was fake because everything was spelt correctly.

LIZS · 28/04/2023 22:32

A known scam, often via whatsapp. Apparently it has even progressed now to a cloned voice message.

Original poster
ImAvingOops · 28/04/2023 22:35

Mine had dodgy punctuation and was very much like my child.

OP posts:
Tink1990 · 28/04/2023 23:03

I got a similar one to my work phone yesterday, via text message. Something about using their friends phone but it's about to die and to WhatsApp their new number which they gave.

dementedpixie · 28/04/2023 23:07

This is what I got. Total scam as both kids were in the house

Scam text 'from' child
Arginalia · 28/04/2023 23:11

Yes, this scam is all over the place. 'Dad' variant also. Warn your friends if they have DC of an age to conceivably send this sort of message. Needless to say subsequent messages are requests for money, neatly tied into the 'broken phone' narrative; borrowing money for new phone or asking you to pay a bill for them as broken phone means they can't get into their banking app to pay it themselves, etc.

PrettyMaybug · 28/04/2023 23:14

I've had a couple of them and I know they are absolutely fake. Because my DC say MOM not Mum.. I know the way they speak. The first thing I would do if/when I got one of these messages is try and ring their phone ... And if I couldn't get through I'd ring their partner's phone. I would not log into or sign into anything after getting a random text. Why did they not phone me? Why is it a text? I've never fallen for one of these and I don't think I ever would.

Original poster
ImAvingOops · 28/04/2023 23:15

My kids always want to borrow money Grin, so a text like this could easily be from one of them!
I am going to warn my parents though.

OP posts:
NeatCompactSleeper · 28/04/2023 23:15

This was all over the news last week although the scam's been around for quite some time.

It made me think all families should agree on a random codeword to use, if they ever really were in trouble.

This thread has just reminded me to speak to my DH and DC to decide on a word.

Original poster
ImAvingOops · 28/04/2023 23:17

It's the little details though - like saying 'hey' or 'mumm' - my dd does that when I don't answer her quickly enough the first time she is high maintenance

OP posts:
Arginalia · 28/04/2023 23:23

NeatCompactSleeper · 28/04/2023 23:15

This was all over the news last week although the scam's been around for quite some time.

It made me think all families should agree on a random codeword to use, if they ever really were in trouble.

This thread has just reminded me to speak to my DH and DC to decide on a word.

Code word is a great idea but if you haven't set one up, asking for and insisting on their full name should do the trick. Scammers send thousands of these to complete randoms - they don't know your DC's name.

Unfortunately, people often respond to 'Hi Mum' with 'Is that you, John?' or 'is that John or Jane' if they have more than one DC and then the scammer says 'yes' or 'It's Jane' and it creates a false sense of security.

Arginalia · 28/04/2023 23:25

& needless to say NEVER send money until you have spoken to your DC and established beyond doubt it is them.

ShowOfHands · 28/04/2023 23:29

When I get them, the shocking grammar means it's definitely not DD. That and we're generally in the same house.

RampantIvy · 28/04/2023 23:30

DH got a hi mum scam text Grin

DD never starts a text with hi mum, especially not to her dad!

This is a well known scam, and has been doing the rounds for ages.

katyperryseyelid · 28/04/2023 23:36

ds only texts asking what’s for dinner so I wouldn’t believe it for a second.

Arginalia · 28/04/2023 23:37

RampantIvy · 28/04/2023 23:30

DH got a hi mum scam text Grin

DD never starts a text with hi mum, especially not to her dad!

This is a well known scam, and has been doing the rounds for ages.

I know someone who got one, her child is aged 1. Impressive that he couldn't even talk when she dropped him off at nursery & 2 hours later he is composing text messages 🙄

Original poster
ImAvingOops · 28/04/2023 23:52

I don't get how it works. Surely if your child asks for money you just send it to their bank via your own banking app. Most people wouldn't send money to an unfamiliar account.

OP posts:
Arginalia · 28/04/2023 23:59

ImAvingOops · 28/04/2023 23:52

I don't get how it works. Surely if your child asks for money you just send it to their bank via your own banking app. Most people wouldn't send money to an unfamiliar account.

The scammers use various excuses. Often it is a payment to someone who is supposedly selling them a new phone; otherwise it is bills or money owed to random people. The scammer claims they can't access their own (your DC's) bank account because their phone is kaput and can't get online so they have the victim supposedly sending money their DC owe to other people.

Original poster
ImAvingOops · 29/04/2023 00:03

Thanks for the explanation @Arginalia

OP posts:
Redglitter · 29/04/2023 00:03

I got one of those. Nearly fell for it & sent money til I realised - I don't have children 🤭

OutDamnedSpot · 29/04/2023 00:04

My best friend’s mum and DP’s mum have both fallen for these types of scam in the last year. Both intelligent, articulate, independent women. Both totally taken in by the fact their child needed help.

I remind my parents on an almost weekly basis that if ‘I’ claim to have lost my phone, to try my ‘old’ number first…

Arginalia · 29/04/2023 00:11

Both totally taken in by the fact their child needed help.

Yes - they rely on the instinct the parent has to come to their child's rescue overriding the normal caution a person might exercise. Sadly, they know exactly what they are doing from a psychological perspective.

Deadringer · 29/04/2023 00:15

This scam has been doing the rounds for at least 2 years. My db nearly fell for it, they were very convincing. Bastards.