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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU or does this look like a scam text message?

32 replies

CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:27

So I got this unexpected text from someone claiming they had been asked by some professor to pick me up at the airport. Instantly I thought scam so I decided to play along for shits and giggles but now I am having second thoughts it might be a genuine mistake as it doesn’t look like a prerequisite to asking for money or anything. Unsurprisingly they went silent on me 😂

was I too quick off the mark?

AIBU or does this look like a scam text message?
OP posts:
loudbatperson · 04/08/2024 16:34

It sounds like they are winding you up and you're winding them up

sunsetsandboardwalks · 04/08/2024 16:42

It didn't read like a scam to me, just a message by someone who doesn't have English as their first language Confused

Wakeywake · 04/08/2024 16:45

It could be a scam, or not. Either way, why engage with them? If they are a scammer now they know they hit on a real number. Do you fancy more nuisance calls and texts?

Original poster
CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:47

My bad 😬

I really thought it was a scammer opening up dialogue so that if I gave the right response they would then need money for car hire or fuel etc. . Oh well I hope they get to the airport on time

OP posts:
Original poster
CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:47

Wakeywake · 04/08/2024 16:45

It could be a scam, or not. Either way, why engage with them? If they are a scammer now they know they hit on a real number. Do you fancy more nuisance calls and texts?

Definitely not. I blocked it straight after.

OP posts:
SauviGone · 04/08/2024 16:48

It doesn't look like a scam at all, it's a simple wrong number by someone who as a PP said, possibly doesn't have English as a first language.

What a bizzare response by you Confused

mirrorlife · 04/08/2024 16:49

Looks like a wrong number. I would send a text to explain. Luckily they don’t know who you are as it’s a bit embarrassing.

Original poster
CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:50

SauviGone · 04/08/2024 16:48

It doesn't look like a scam at all, it's a simple wrong number by someone who as a PP said, possibly doesn't have English as a first language.

What a bizzare response by you Confused

Just wanted to waste their time and scare them off if it was a fishing scam.

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 04/08/2024 16:50

CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:47

My bad 😬

I really thought it was a scammer opening up dialogue so that if I gave the right response they would then need money for car hire or fuel etc. . Oh well I hope they get to the airport on time

How would it work as a scam unless you happen to be called Andy and need a lift from an airport today? Confused

I really think you've jumped the shark with this one!

Cinai2 · 04/08/2024 16:50

I’d say wrong number. I’d send another text to say ‘joking, you’ve got the wrong number, mate’

Sethera · 04/08/2024 16:53

It's not an obvious route into a scam because it would be a huge coincidence if you did happen to be expecting a 'professor' to pick you up at an airport, and unless you were, you wouldn't be sending taxi fares etc.

However, some scammers do send random-sounding messages simply to open up a dialogue; it could be one of those on the assumption that a kindly person wouldn't want Andy to be stranded, so would likely reply to correct the scammer who might then continue the conversation.

Best advice is to ignore unexpected messages. If it's a genuine situation and the person has any sense they would check the number if no one responded.

Werweisswohin · 04/08/2024 16:56

'Think you've got a wrong number.'
No further dialogue needed.

Original poster
CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:56

Sethera · 04/08/2024 16:53

It's not an obvious route into a scam because it would be a huge coincidence if you did happen to be expecting a 'professor' to pick you up at an airport, and unless you were, you wouldn't be sending taxi fares etc.

However, some scammers do send random-sounding messages simply to open up a dialogue; it could be one of those on the assumption that a kindly person wouldn't want Andy to be stranded, so would likely reply to correct the scammer who might then continue the conversation.

Best advice is to ignore unexpected messages. If it's a genuine situation and the person has any sense they would check the number if no one responded.

That’s exactly what I thought. You do get some random ones which rely on you responding to correct them and it then
opens up a dialogue with them where they can move things on.

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 04/08/2024 16:58

CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 16:56

That’s exactly what I thought. You do get some random ones which rely on you responding to correct them and it then
opens up a dialogue with them where they can move things on.

Show quote history

So why not just ignore it?

The worst thing you can do with scammers is answer, as it just tells them you're an active number so they'll try it even more.

DecafDodger · 04/08/2024 17:01

How would it work as a scam unless you happen to be called Andy and need a lift from an airport today?

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/wrong-number-text-scam-rcna39793

Reallybadidea · 04/08/2024 17:02

It's so specific with the name, the professor and the airport, that they'd need to message an incredibly large number of random people for anyone to fall for a it. And if it was a scam, do you really think they'd be scared off by you sending a daft reply? You've wasted their time and yours and probably Andy is stuck at the airport now.

There is a middle ground between being totally naive and being alert to scams. This isn't it.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 04/08/2024 17:03

DecafDodger · 04/08/2024 17:01

How would it work as a scam unless you happen to be called Andy and need a lift from an airport today?

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/wrong-number-text-scam-rcna39793

Fair enough, not something I've ever heard of or experienced. I just delete and block weird messages though, it would genuinely never occur to me to respond.

Original poster
CosmicDaisyChain · 04/08/2024 17:07

Reallybadidea · 04/08/2024 17:02

It's so specific with the name, the professor and the airport, that they'd need to message an incredibly large number of random people for anyone to fall for a it. And if it was a scam, do you really think they'd be scared off by you sending a daft reply? You've wasted their time and yours and probably Andy is stuck at the airport now.

There is a middle ground between being totally naive and being alert to scams. This isn't it.

It's been explained above with the link that the specifics may be meaningless. If I've wasted a scammers time I'm more than happy with that.

OP posts:
Sethera · 04/08/2024 17:13

Reallybadidea · 04/08/2024 17:02

It's so specific with the name, the professor and the airport, that they'd need to message an incredibly large number of random people for anyone to fall for a it. And if it was a scam, do you really think they'd be scared off by you sending a daft reply? You've wasted their time and yours and probably Andy is stuck at the airport now.

There is a middle ground between being totally naive and being alert to scams. This isn't it.

If 'Andy' even exists, the OP isn't responsible for getting him home. She doesn't have his number to pass on - 'the professor' and his chums would have to recheck their records and get the right number, or wait for Andy to phone them; or Andy could get a taxi when he landed ...

My money is on it being a random 'intriguing' message for scam purposes, though, and as in the linked article from pp, a few messages later OP would find herself being invited to invest in Bitcoin.

PuppyMonkey · 04/08/2024 17:13

I hope Andy’s okay. Grin

DrusillaLovesSpike · 04/08/2024 17:15

sunsetsandboardwalks · 04/08/2024 16:50

How would it work as a scam unless you happen to be called Andy and need a lift from an airport today? Confused

I really think you've jumped the shark with this one!

Show quote history

because the scammer then goes "oh wrong number, lets chat" and then there is a link

Easy to pretend to wrong number

NippyCrab · 04/08/2024 17:16

🤣🤣🤣 sweet cheeks lol

sunsetsandboardwalks · 04/08/2024 17:19

DrusillaLovesSpike · 04/08/2024 17:15

because the scammer then goes "oh wrong number, lets chat" and then there is a link

Easy to pretend to wrong number

Show quote history

I guess I just don't understand why anyone who wasn't called Andy would respond in the first place, let alone start to chat with a total stranger Grin

Maybe other people are more sociable than me, hah.

AndyAtArrivals · 04/08/2024 17:23

Bloody hell! How long do I have to wait for a lift to meet the professor? I was assured there’d be a driver.

I’ve been here at Stansted for 3 hours now.

Can anyone help?

ChubSeedsYorkie · 04/08/2024 17:26

SauviGone · 04/08/2024 16:48

It doesn't look like a scam at all, it's a simple wrong number by someone who as a PP said, possibly doesn't have English as a first language.

What a bizzare response by you Confused

This. It’s not even a funny response I feel a bit cringe for the OP. Very odd.