A few people at work have been targeted by this scam so I thought it would be a good idea to post a thread here for awareness, as it particularly targets parents.
What happens is:
You receive a message along the lines of 'Hi Mum, it's me - I've lost my phone, this is my new number'
You then save the number as your DD/DS's new contact.*
Shortly after, you receive a message from your 'child' asking for money - sometimes building on the lost phone theme, e.g. can't access their banking app so need you to pay an urgent bill for them; need money to replace the 'lost' phone etc.
You're given bank details to send a transfer.
You send the transfer, then get more messages asking for more money.
(*if, at this point, you ask which of your children it is, they will say 'guess!' or 'your favourite child' or otherwise avoid giving a name)
It is a SCAM. The person contacting you is a scammer, not your son/daughter.
They rely on you not wanting to leave your child in the lurch by creating a sense of urgency, and once you've sent money by bank transfer, you can't get it back.
How to avoid being scammed:
- Speak to your child, and contact them ON THE ORIGINAL NUMBER you hold for them and ask whether the message is genuine.
Hope this is helpful!