Is this a scam text? Worried sick

[Ellenaa]

Posting for my mum!

sister is on night out, doesn’t keep in touch every night in her 30s. Mum received this text “hi mum smashed my phone, using a friends but it’s running out of battery. Can you text me on my new number?” (Then had a new number)

I told my mum it’s a scam because

1. she never usually gets in touch why the need to get in touch tonight?
2. she’s not replied to mymesssges but they’re being delivered
3. how would she have got a new phone so quick?
4. why not text off the new number?

going to show replies to mum who’s now worried sick and probably won’t sleep

Definitely a scam. DH got one 2 days ago and checked with DC. All fine and in possession of their phones

I've had that text, I have no children.

Have you called your sister? Hopefully she can call and speak to your mum to put her mind at ease.

Yep, scam. I got this one a couple months back

I got the exact same same text tonight.

If my daughter hadn't of been with me when I got it, I actually would of fell for it & I normally know straight away when it's a scam.

My mum got it the other week too. Very well known scam. They'll chat for a bit then start asking for money to be transferred.

Your poor Mum.

it is a scam though, I hope your sister gets your message soon & calls your mum x

Scam, I've had this too

DD never says "Hi mum", so I know if I received such a text it would be a scam. It is a very well known scam and has been posted on Facebook many times.

Even I know it's a scam and I don't have a mobile phone.

Yes, scam. I’ve had it twice recently.

Yes it's a scam.

I got one the other week from my ds saying he'd done something and was texting from this number and could I call him on another given number.

I posted here as it's a newer one than this.

Apart from the fact my ds can't spell perfectly like the text he was sat next to me at the time

Don't know if I'm missing something but why can't the scammer just text you from the new number? Doesn't make sense for your fake DC to use their friend's phone to text you if they've got a number they can use. So many plot holes!

Not newer one than this.

The newer one which is this one!!!!

I was suspicious about the other number being premium rate to text or call.

My friend's mum fell for it and was scammed out of £1000. Really awful and she was so embarrassed. Poor thing

@RampantIvy > As you say, this is a well-known scam. Unfortunately there'll be enough people falling for it to make it worthwhile. Like your daughter, my son would never start a text with 'Hello mum' - he's called me by my first name since he was at primary school. I blame 'The Simpsons' 😑. I'd think, who is this strange person if he called me 'mum'; I'd know it wasn't him.

For those who have McAfee virus protection there's a scam linked to that. I had the McAfee window pop up when I clicked on the online site for a newspaper. It told me I had five viruses on my computer. It looked like them but I went out of the website and looked at my McAfee information. It said I had no viruses and it checks every time I click onto a new website.

Can we help come up with random questions to send them . Can I offer:
i did wonder why you didn’t reply. Did you get my message about Bob as he and Janet want to stay with you on Friday for 2 weeks and I assumed that’s ok.

Scam. Send a message to sisters real no asking her to confirm all is ok.

It's not designed to fool people who think about these things logically - it only needs to catch people who are panicky, reactive, don't understand tech all that much, simply act without thinking.

I had the 'hi Mum.. smashed my phone' the other day. Since no one on the planet calls me 'Mum' I blocked it without bothering to fully read it and analyse how much sense it made.

The appalling grammar on that message alone would show it’s not from most people’s children!

Also, our DC tend to use very recognisable phrases -
If I received that text, I’d know right away something was “ Off” with message.

I had it as well - my daughter is 7 and uses my phone. Was impressed by how much her spelling had improved though 😉🤣

It’s a scam, dh received this last week and phoned me right away our dd is 14, thankfully she was next to me on her perfectly working phone so he blocked number. tell your mum not to reply as they will spam her number if she does

Show her this:

This :

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11076553/amp/Fraud-expert-warns-twist-WhatsApp-scam-Brits-tricked-1-5m-just-six-months.html

Definitely a scam.

If she’s ever unsure get her to text/ring your sisters phone and see if she answers first.

Theres also a few going around from the government and energy companies so tell her to be suspicious of any messages.