Scam text 'from' child

[ImAvingOops]

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.

I had this last week. Kept them going for a wee while before I blocked them. Gits.

Whilst it may be well known and has been doing the rounds for ages, people still fall for it left right and centre - thank you for bringing to even more people’s attention OP (and everyone that has commented their experiences) as educating people against these scammers is the only way to stop them being successful 🤞🏻

This is a very common scam.
My teen has also received one with roles reversed- it was "hi darling I'm at the shops and my card won't work, can you transfer me x amount to x bank details". So let your teens know about that one too.

These have been going round for years.

Of course it would sound like your kids saying "Hey Mum" that's exactly how the scammers get away with it.

Is it just my DC' s who never address me as anything when they message me ? 🤔.

In fact if the message consists of 4 words or more ...well that feels like an actual conversation 🤣🤣🤣!

I would definitely know it was a scam if it started ... Hey mum !

DD never addresses me. She just launches straight in to what she wants to say.

Yep often get them

Amazing as my dd6 doesn't have a phone or is playing in front of me 😂

I got one which started with "hey mother". My children have never called me mother and would never start with "hey"
It's a scam, block the number.

on the opposite side, I once got a message from my brother, who was travelling and really had lost his phone, cards etc and really did need me to transfer money to him and I made him answer a lot of obscure questions before I even attempted to help.

I agree all families need a code word, so you can confirm it is your child.

Do not use names of pets

agree it in person, not over any messaging service

Do not use any distinctive word that has ever been sent by whatapp or text, or email

Change the word once it has been used

I don't have children so love stringing them along for a while

My mum fell for this, send them 2.5k 🤦🏻‍♀️

My 13 year old son got this text
so I think they just send it to a lot of numbers all at once

A lady I work with got quite deeply into this until she realised, just before she sent money. My dad got one saying ‘hi dad’.

There's several big giveaways in how those scams are done that DC never do.

That.

There's a thread on here where a mumsnetter had one of these scammers being strung along for ages with the most hilarious messages

I always ask if it's Lucy or Sarah (neither are names of my children) and they never reply.

😂 that's what I do! I think there was a Mumsnetter who had one and text them back, they replied and she strung them along for ages. It was hilarious.

I always ask if it's X or X (often using really outlandish names) and they almost always come back with one of the names.

I once gave my two dog's names and they said it was one of them!