To think this is a scam

[KateMiddletonsExtensions]

Received a text saying

"Hi Kate, just to let you know my new mobile number, speak soon xx"

No sign off. How am I expected to know who it is? Am I bloody psychic? Or is it a scam? I put the number in whocalledme.com but nothing came up.

Has anyone else received a message like this? I've blocked it but screenshotted the text and number for future reference.

Do you know any Kate’s at all? Otherwise I would presume someone just misdialled the number when updating their new phone/SIM card. - it is possible they had to tap in all their contacts and where unable to transfer data via the cloud /system backup.

Why not just reply and say 'who's this?'. Then you can contact them by other means to check. I'm not sure why you'd jump to immediately blocking the number.

I think the only appropriate answer back is

“who dis?”

It can't be a scam as they haven't tried to get anything off of you. It's probably a misdial.

I think if someone had mentioned my name like that I'd think it might be someone I knew. I'd phone to find out.

Blocking seems a bit of an over reaction. Assuming they've given your correct name why would you not just reply asking who it is. It's probably just as it says. Someone you know with a new phone

Something my SIL would do, thinking you’ll psychically know it’s her! They can’t get your details or scam you by replying - who’s this.

There is a well known scam where the scammer starts out like this then if you reply, tries to build a friendship with you so they can scam you.

I think it depends if OP's name is actually Kate.

Yeah, got one saying it was my mums new number. Then asked me to transfer £100s as they were having problems. Told them to bugger off and blocked.

It's a renowned scam as the PP said. I've 2x on WhatsApp.

The WA one tends to be a generic 'Hi Mum/Dad' and theyve lost their phine so the angle is looking for money. They don't usually reference your name.

You can google phone numbers. If other people have received the same message or it's an ongoing scam, you'll find out. You'll also find out if there's a cost to reply. If none of that, it's likely some dozy friend or relative and it's safe to ask 'em who they are!

A friend of my mums lost £100 this way 😔she got an email or WA supposedly from another friend needing money who didn't have their phone to call anyone but she's in dire straits please send £100. This lady thinking it really was her friend just sent the money straight over never to be seen again. Bloody scamming twats.

I always ask those WA ones to tell me the name of my dog. If they really are one of my sons they will know the answer.

You ask who it is, they contact that person via other means to make sure it’s them.

I got the ‘Hi Mum, I broke my phone this is my new number’ texts. I just contact the kids and made sure it wasn’t them. Then strung the scammer along for a bit.

How would a scammer know your name and even if it was one nothings going to happen if you reply and ask who it is

It probably is someone you know . I'd just ask?

My friend did this, texted everyone with her new number without saying who it was! She was a bit ditsy. Not always a scam but it’s sensible to be wary.

This is known as a scam tactic - the scammer pretends to be someone you know and leads the text conversation round to asking for money. A genuine person would obviously include their own name when texting people to let them know of a number change. I would ignore it. If by any small chance it is genuine, the person will follow it up in a less opaque way.

Whatever happens, never send money to someone who has contacted you by text message/social media etc. even if it's apparently from a known number/account - it might be spoofed/hacked.

Ignore or ask who it is, if they ask for money, ignore

I work in fraud and would not recommend replying to the message. Although it may be legitimate it could also be a scam and likely is. Most genuine people would let you know who the sender is.

Scammers are chances and could be trying to see if your mobile number is active. Replying will confirm your mobile number is in fact active and then you could and likely will be bombarded with more messages.

If it's a friend any further messages aren't going to be seen as the OP has blocked the number.

Sometimes people do daft things like forgetting to say who they are, @KateMiddletonsExtensions clearly isn't going to be sending anyone any money so why not check who it is?

Text messages are not the only means of communication in life!

@LongSinceGotUpAndGone

A accidentally forgets to say it's her when texting OP her new number
OP blocks number
A texts OP to offer a spare ticket to a concert but OP doesn't get it obviously as she's blocked A's number so A doesn't get a reply.
A texts OP to say happy birthday but gets no reply to that either.
A doesn't follow up texts with phone call as she is unsure if OP is trying to ghost her.
Meanwhile OP has been texting A (on her old number as she didn't know the 'new number' text was from A) so obviously OP's texts haven't been received or replied to.
OP considers calling A but is unsure if she's being ghosted so doesn't bother.
Friendship over

All just to avoid sending one text to ask who it is? Really?

They aren't but why would someone who doesn't know that their friend has blocked their number decide to email them or knock on the door for their next attempt at communicating?

We dont need to be so paranoid that the world is full of scammers that we don't do the obvious thing and ask who it is