Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just got a fraudulent 'hello mum' text

35 replies

PupInAPram · 23/07/2023 22:29

saying 'my phone crashed, WhatsApp me on this number'. I know it's bollocks as my kids don't call me mum. My aibu is,
YANBU have a bit of fun and string the fraudsters along for a while just for shits and giggles.
YABU even replying knowing the text is fraudulent can be risky.

OP posts:
EmpressaurusOfCats · 23/07/2023 22:31

YANBU. Do it!

CiderJolly · 23/07/2023 22:32

Don’t reply, you’re just confirming it’s an active number. Forward to action fraud.

Original poster
PupInAPram · 23/07/2023 22:33

CiderJolly · 23/07/2023 22:32

Don’t reply, you’re just confirming it’s an active number. Forward to action fraud.

How do I do this please?

OP posts:
F1ymetothetoon · 23/07/2023 22:33

Don't reply just block!

Neveranynamesleft · 23/07/2023 22:34

Definitely do not reply. Block.

ChChChangeIsAfoot · 23/07/2023 22:34

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

WhenIWasAFieldMyself · 23/07/2023 22:42

Your shits and giggles will just encourage them to do it to people who may be more vulnerable and scared by the scamming cunts.

Don't.

10HailMarys · 23/07/2023 22:43

Don’t reply.

mynameiscalypso · 23/07/2023 22:44

Once you end up on a list as a live number, your details become much more valuable to scammers.

Awrite · 23/07/2023 22:44

I got an IKEA verification code text the other day.

How can that be used to defraud me?

Is it if I reply it confirms that my number is valid?

YabbaDabbaDooooo · 23/07/2023 22:45

mynameiscalypso · 23/07/2023 22:44

Once you end up on a list as a live number, your details become much more valuable to scammers.

This, totally.

Theunamedcat · 23/07/2023 22:46

Mine call me mam or maaa!!!!! We also have protocols in place for if their phone is genuinely broken

Original poster
PupInAPram · 23/07/2023 22:49

@Peakysneaky Mar, don't ask me why!

OP posts:
Redshoeblueshoe · 23/07/2023 22:52

My phone - which is just a cheap one, tells me when a call or a text is a scam

BeckyWithTheGoodHair010101 · 23/07/2023 23:07

I had one of these the other week
I told this "child" that I wished they weren't born and they weren't getting a penny from me. Couldn't resist a little wind up. What happens now I'm on "the list" 😬

ivykaty44 · 23/07/2023 23:13

I had this text going back 3/4 years and was unsure about it so I sent a fishing text back, to confirm either way if it really was my dd

what Have they done with my live number?

Original poster
PupInAPram · 23/07/2023 23:21

Seems a few folk have replied without then getting bombarded by fraudsters.

OP posts:
smilesup · 23/07/2023 23:26

I replied is that Ella or Matty? It was poor little Ella, which is weird as I don't have an Ella. They gave me lots of urgent texts before I remembered I had disowned Ella as she was a lazy so and so and would she kindly ask her Dad as I no longer wanted her to live her. She never contacted him though which was strange.

Redshoeblueshoe · 23/07/2023 23:30

Smilesup - excellent reply

Twyford · 23/07/2023 23:50

Why do they always want you to WhatsApp them? I'm always tempted to play the helpless parent and tell them to set up the WhatsApp.

cocksstrideintheevening · 23/07/2023 23:53

Don't reply ffs

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 24/07/2023 00:00

I saw a meme that said to do a gumtree add saying free puppies and list the number

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 24/07/2023 00:01

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 24/07/2023 00:00

I saw a meme that said to do a gumtree add saying free puppies and list the number

Although actually maybe don't do this or they'll start asking those people for deposits or something 😭

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 24/07/2023 00:05

I had this last week - as a childless person I wondered if our cat had suddenly become amazingly tech savvy.

Fantina · 24/07/2023 00:10

My Dsis and I have joked that we can sleep easily know our DM would never fall for these scams as despite being wealthy, she doesn’t so much as buy us a cup of coffee.