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Original poster

Message from old school friend asking for money

56 replies

peppermintcloud · 30/05/2024 19:35

My husband received a message from a girl he went to school with but hasn't heard from since. She says that another of their old classmates has recently lost his wife and is now alone parenting their 3 children. She's collecting money for him and included her bank details.
The country they are from is quite deprived. It's not the first time he's been contacted for money since moving out of the country, but this is the only time it's been for someone else
The message contained no introduction like "how are you?" or "it's been a while!". Just straight into it.

What would you do in this situation?

OP posts:
MaryMack · 30/05/2024 19:38

I wouldn't send any money. It could be an elaborate scam.

Sweetdreams98 · 30/05/2024 19:38

Could be real or could be a scam. I would contact one other friend and verify if this is true .

TheThingIsYeah · 30/05/2024 19:41

Get your husband to print out the message. Then promptly file it in the round filing cabinet on the floor.

Spirallingdownwards · 30/05/2024 19:41

It is a scam

MargaretThursday · 30/05/2024 19:42

I wouldn't because I would suspect if he does he'll get more and more requests.

If I was feeling kind, I'd ask for his address so I could send them something directly (goods not money too). But I'd also check with a mutual friend that it was the case.

LessOfMe99 · 30/05/2024 19:42

Scam

MyGreenFinch · 30/05/2024 19:42

Definitely sounds like a scam to me!

EarringsandLipstick · 30/05/2024 19:43

Of course it's a scam.

Not by the old school friend, I'd imagine. That's just how the scam has been circulated.

Honestly, you needed MN to tell you this?

Danascully2 · 30/05/2024 19:46

I have had a few messages out of the blue from people I either haven't heard from in years or who I would never normally be in contact with by that method (fb messenger and email). A recent one was apparently from an older person who I maybe emailed once years ago and said something along the lines of ' Are you less busy? Can we talk for a few minutes by email as I've got laryngitis so can't talk on the phone'?. I know for certain it wasn't from the actual person as it was sent at a time when I was with them face to face (and they wouldn't do emails out and about, not sure they even have a smartphone). I also had one a while ago with some story about someone with liver cancer and needing money via Amazon vouchers or something.

3luckystars · 30/05/2024 19:46

I would delete the message and forget about it.

Danascully2 · 30/05/2024 19:46

Ps my point is that all of the above were scams/hacks pretending to be from someone I knew.

MyGreenFinch · 30/05/2024 20:00

EarringsandLipstick · 30/05/2024 19:43

Of course it's a scam.

Not by the old school friend, I'd imagine. That's just how the scam has been circulated.

Honestly, you needed MN to tell you this?

Some people really haven’t heard of some of the scams going around. I had to tell my colleague that the overseas buyer wanting to buy her car sight unseen was a scammer. She’s no idiot but just hadn’t heard of it.

Sunsetlullaby · 30/05/2024 20:14

Absolutely ignore

Original poster
peppermintcloud · 30/05/2024 20:17

I also think it's likely a scam. But unfortunately it may be also a scam from this girl in question, not someone pretending to be her. Since my husband moved to the UK from a wealthier country, people who are still in his home town and who are quite poor quite regularly contact him asking for money for various things.

OP posts:
2dogsandabudgie · 30/05/2024 20:17

Of course it's a scam.

ManilowBarry · 30/05/2024 20:18

Anyone that asks for money in this manner needs to be blocked.

Do not acknowledge or reply.

Just block.

EmeraldRoulette · 30/05/2024 20:19

peppermintcloud · 30/05/2024 20:17

I also think it's likely a scam. But unfortunately it may be also a scam from this girl in question, not someone pretending to be her. Since my husband moved to the UK from a wealthier country, people who are still in his home town and who are quite poor quite regularly contact him asking for money for various things.

Even more reason to ignore it and forget about it.

Original poster
peppermintcloud · 30/05/2024 20:19

She did use a nickname for him that was used at school, so my husband thinks it is her, but that the story about the friend's wife dying may not be true. (He works in high-tech so is pretty astute about scams).

OP posts:
Starlightstarbright3 · 30/05/2024 20:20

Scam or real . If I am not in touch with that person they aren’t close enough bro support financially.

Ereyraa · 30/05/2024 20:21

Block the number.

Hiddenvoice · 30/05/2024 20:21

I would imagine a scam, I wouldn’t send any money and would ignore the message.
If he’s keen to find out could he contact someone else and see if it’s true?

Original poster
peppermintcloud · 30/05/2024 20:21

Starlightstarbright3 · 30/05/2024 20:20

Scam or real . If I am not in touch with that person they aren’t close enough bro support financially.

It's not to support her. It seems like she's basically messaging all their old school friends trying to raise money for this one old classmate who has lost his wife.

OP posts:
greatvisuals · 30/05/2024 20:22

It's definitely a scam.

I get at least two of these a year, sometimes from friends email addresses.

Ignore and delete/spam

Original poster
peppermintcloud · 30/05/2024 20:25

She used the actual name (and nickname) of the school friend whose wife has died, which wouldn't be known to an outside scammer. So pretty certain it is her.

OP posts:
greatvisuals · 30/05/2024 20:31

Could have got that from an obituary or looking up the funeral.

Sorry to be cynical but there are people that make a living out of this kind of fraud.