Does anyone know if a phone company would do this after someone died?

[Youreatowel]

I’m so sorry if this is the wrong place to post this and my heart goes out to anyone going through a bereavement. But I wondered if anyone had any knowledge of this.

My best friend and I had a falling out last year and she blocked me on everything, no way of contacting her. Her husband has been very ill for a long time and I’ve often wondered/thought about how he was doing and if I would find out if he did pass away. We weren’t close particularly but I knew him as her boyfriend, attended their wedding, knew their children since babies etc, and always thought very fondly of him.

This morning I got a WhatsApp message from his name (full name) saying he had died and the account was being closed down today (I will copy and paste the message below). If it’s genuine of course I want to reach out to my friend (although unsure how as I’ve checked and I’m still blocked on every possible way to contact her). But something about it just feels off… I mean of course it seems incredibly unlikely any sort of scammer would send a message like this/how would they even know he was ill etc, but I’ve never known a mobile company (EE, we are in England if that’s relevant), send something like this. I’m considering sending a card (as this is the only way to contact her now) with my condolences but if it somehow isn’t genuine that will be an awful thing to do/for them to receive.

Can anyone tell me if UK mobile networks do send messages like this to all contacts (via WhatsApp) when someone passes away, or if I’m involved in some sort of scam and need to ignore/not cause her any unnecessary upset? For context the falling out was over something silly and minor so just me contacting won’t cause any issues/trauma for her other than the fact it may not be true.

The message said this: “This is an automated message. Sorry to inform all his contacts, John Smith passed away and his ee contract is to be closed today. Regards EE customer services”.

(John Smith is a fake name).

Course they don't

I think that's a scam.

I have had a conversation with DP as I think the same as you, of course they don’t. DP thinks it sounds genuine as any scammer would not know John was ill so how would they know who to target and why?

But I think the lack of capitals in ee in the message and the fact it was sent in WhatsApp not via message means there is something off about it. I’m really struggling to know what to do.

EE wouldn't hold records of who an account holder's contacts are.

No, mobile companies most definitely do not do this.

Was the number a mobile number? Why don't you phone EE and ask if they do this (which they don't).

Best suggestion. It makes them aware of the message (altho I can't see how a scam works, how do they know the name?)

Don't companies address you by name and that's how you know it's legit?

Thank you.

Good point. I assume they also couldn’t access someone’s WhatsApp account either as it’s a separate app on your phone? (If that makes sense)

Yeah it came from a mobile number. I actually tried to do an online chat with EE before I posted but that only seems to work if I’m a customer with EE (which I’m not). I can try phoning them though, thank you.

I don’t get how the scam works, how they would know his name (and it isn’t a common name like John Smith either, and has an uncommon spelling in the name- which was all correct). How they would know he was ill so it was believable (unless that’s just random and they didn’t know). Etc. Or what they gain from it. They haven’t asked me to do anything or call a number or anything, so I don’t understand it.

That’s also true though, companies would usually do that. So I’m thinking scam even more now but it’s good to see I’m not the only one thinking it is a scam.

It's your friend letting you know her DH has died, without having to communicate with you.

Thank you for the replies, I was almost certain something wasn’t right and just needed to make sure it wasn’t just me. I will phone EE and report it as a scam/see if they know anything about this type of scam.

His account has been hacked? And the hacker sent the message (to all his contacts?), you may have picked up something from the hacker by opening the message, so your account may be compromised?

Have you considered that it could be your friend who although has fallen out with you? She wants you to know but without clearly making contact. This way you know what has happened to her husband but then won't continue a dialogue with the number.

I think this is your friend’s way of reaching out to you after the death of her husband.

Possibly. I’m not sure how I will know unless someone in my contacts lets me know they’ve received something from me?

Definitely not the norm. Google the number the message came from in case it’s a known scam number?

Send EE a tweet and screenshot the message, giving the phone number, too. We know they don't do that but their response will be reassuring. It sounds as though your friend is playing games.

I agree that this is your friend trying to indirectly tell you.

Perhaps your friend is trying to let everyone know without having to speak to lots of people about how she's feeling?

I suspect this is the case

Agree I think it’s your DFriend. Assuming you’d like to contact her I’d probably send a card (plain one, not a condolence one - just in case) saying you’d received that message and in case it wasn’t a scam you just wanted her to know you’re thinking of her/the family and if she ever wanted to speak again that your numbers are still the same etc. And then it’s with her if she wanted to respond thanking you for the card/telling you it’s not true etc.

Okay that seems more likely than a scam now people have mentioned it. That would make sense with the fact it doesn’t all add up but the “facts”- his name, the fact he was ill, are correct.

Still slightly wary about sending a card in case it is a scam but thinking I should.

I think it's your friend letting you know rather than a scam.