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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WhatsApp scam?

34 replies

Sweetus · 14/05/2023 09:52

I recently saw that my partner had blocked 3 numbers on WhatsApp. 2 pictures were the same person, and one was a different woman. All British numbers. They were either Korean or Hong Kong ladies. He says they had tried calling him, so he blocked them and deleted the call history? Is this a potential scam?
For some background information, I previously caught him watching raunchy videos of women of this ethnicity, so I know he likes this type of woman. He says I'm being paranoid.

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Doggymummar · 14/05/2023 09:55

I'm a woman and I get them sometimes along with emails offering me there services. It's badly tRGETTETTED advertising to me, but seemingly well TRGETTETTED to your partner. They send millions of them and sometimes they get a hit.

greenacrylicpaint · 14/05/2023 09:58

could be either.

personally I received messages just saying 'hi' with very pretty women in the profile pics.
of course I block them without replying.

Justmuddlingalong · 14/05/2023 09:58

I had 3 video calls from WhatsApp yesterday. All from the same number, with the same woman's picture. They rang a few times and cut off. When I googled the area code, it was Italy, so I presume it's a scammy call of some sort. I'd have been suspicious in your shoes if I hadn't had those calls myself.

Fairowing · 14/05/2023 09:58

I agree, keep getting the “Hi Mum” message and my DC don’t have cars or mobile phones…

WhatAmIDoingWrong123 · 14/05/2023 09:59

Sweetus · 14/05/2023 09:52

I recently saw that my partner had blocked 3 numbers on WhatsApp. 2 pictures were the same person, and one was a different woman. All British numbers. They were either Korean or Hong Kong ladies. He says they had tried calling him, so he blocked them and deleted the call history? Is this a potential scam?
For some background information, I previously caught him watching raunchy videos of women of this ethnicity, so I know he likes this type of woman. He says I'm being paranoid.

I've had a few messages recently on WhatsApp from unrecognised numbers offering services or whatever. I block them too.

Changingplace · 14/05/2023 10:02

My FIL had some messages like this recently, helped him block them because it’s clearly a scam.

Tartantop · 14/05/2023 10:03

Myself and my partner have both had missed WhatsApp calls from an account with a photo of a female of the same description. If you click on the account is says business account. It’s a scam

NeedToThinkOfOne · 14/05/2023 10:04

Instagram is bad for this too, owned by Facebook, so you do the math. So many people don’t realise that WhatsApp is basically Facebook, so lots of scams, advertising through other ways and most of all reading the keywords in your messages and serving you ads on Instagram and FB based on what people think is private chat 🤷‍♀️

Sweetus · 14/05/2023 10:05

They are British numbers and with suspiciously perfect pictures, almost like they've been taken off the Web. I don't know what to think because of his history and the fact I know he's interested in this type of woman. I thought scammers would message first rather than call?

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Fraaahnces · 14/05/2023 10:05

I’ve been getting them too. Also fake recruitment agencies with modelesque women

WheelsUp · 14/05/2023 10:07

I can scammers on WhatsApp too. I block so I don't get any more offers of cheap designer bags etc

wormshuffled · 14/05/2023 10:07

Also had fake recruitment contacts from unknown numbers that are too good to be true and written in bad English.

WheelsUp · 14/05/2023 10:08

The pics I get with the accounts are women in swimwear. Your h is right to block

LuckyPaisley · 14/05/2023 10:10

I've had calls like this on WhatsApp recently, they're UK numbers and a beautiful Asian woman in the profile pic. They ring several times in quick succession then no more, even if I don't block them.

Irishmammy2022 · 14/05/2023 10:10

Yes it’s probably just a scam.

SpringOn · 14/05/2023 10:11

My DH got one of these supposedly from a Thai woman last week. He showed me and blocked it. I have had similar. Scam.

Schroedingersimmigrant · 14/05/2023 10:13

It's a scam but tbh I don't see much future in your relationship anyway with the issues

Sweetus · 14/05/2023 10:13

Well, it's reassuring to know that it's probably a scam. Just with his previous behaviour, I was worried he had met someone on a site.

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Sweetus · 14/05/2023 10:15

Schroedingersimmigrant · 14/05/2023 10:13

It's a scam but tbh I don't see much future in your relationship anyway with the issues

You're right. It's pretty much full of insecurities, mostly on my behalf, because of his past behaviour. We have a child, animals, and home together, though. I will need to have a good think about our situation and go from there

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Modda · 14/05/2023 10:17

I get these as a message but never a call. I never delete the history either.

User124534687 · 14/05/2023 10:21

Modda · 14/05/2023 10:17

I get these as a message but never a call. I never delete the history either.

This is a good point. We are all saying we block these people but we never delete the history.

You’d only do that to cover your tracks. I can’t think of any other reason to do it.

Stratocumulus · 14/05/2023 10:22

I have a suspicion that once anyone taps into anything like yr DH has previously subscribed to, that he will get this kind of junk for ages yet. They’ve got their hooks in and every now and then they’ll pop up.
I suspect they hope some poor loser will give in to temptation and start looking and paying for what’s on offer lin a weak moment.
I really am naive about such matters but logic suggests what I’m thinking. It’s a global billion £/$ industry like the OLD sites. Once you subscribe to them they’ll keep bothering the “customer” with pop ups for weeks/months afterwards. Especially when it gets near to renewing a subscription time. (This I know from a 3rd party’s experience last year.)

Its an absolute pain so I’d probably, given his history, keep my antennae up.

PurpleFlower1983 · 14/05/2023 10:24

Both me and my husband get these messages sometimes but with your husband it sounds like it could be either.

NeighbourhoodonWatch · 14/05/2023 10:31

Its not ALL scams, both DS and I have had the most amazing job opportunity...£10k per month anyone?! 🤣

Sweetus · 14/05/2023 10:45

I don't know what to do here. It could very well be a scam, but it also could be something sinister. He unblocked the numbers and said he is leaving his phone at home while he goes to work. The reason for this, he says, is because he is not hiding anything.

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