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Original poster

Warning! Just about fell for con…

55 replies

EatSleepFlyRepeat · 19/09/2023 15:25

I just wanted to warn parents who may have just dropped their young adults off at Uni this week about a potential scam that I just about fell for earlier today… basically I got a text message from a random number saying something along the lines of ‘mum, I’ve smashed my phone, I’ve borrowed a phone from a friend but it’s on low power, can you message me back on my new number xx’ with the new number attached. Naturally I messaged back, in a bit of a panic and worried, and the conversation basically went on to ask for a large sum of money. There were couple of red flags, including some of the language in the message my daughter would never use - and as a EngLit student she is fastidious with her grammar and punctuation, it just didn’t seem like her. I was worried so I FaceTimed her on her usual number and of course she was fine, she hadn’t smashed her phone, and didn’t need any money or have a problem with the bank. I’ve attached screen shots of the text conversation and now blocked both numbers, but it did seem feasible especially as I had just dropped her off at her university over the weekend, posted on FB as many parents do, and I know she is paying out large sums of money for her accommodation etc at the moment - I can’t believe I just about fell for it, and just wanted to warn others who may receive similar messages! I feel like a bit of a fool for just about falling for it, but not as foolish as i would be to have actually fallen for it…

Warning! Just about fell for con…
Warning! Just about fell for con…
OP posts:
wheresmymojo · 19/09/2023 18:21

The set up for some of these scams is crazy.

If you go on YouTube there are quite a few ethical hackers who focus on scammers.

Quite a lot are run out of full call centre type operations - with an office, team of 20-30 people who do the scamming as their actual job, managers, etc.

Quite eye opening and fun to see them getting scammed / having ethical hackers send viruses to all their computers / etc.

SisyphusDad · 19/09/2023 18:26

"Mum, I've lost my phone and need you to send me some money!"

"Sorry. I'm your Dad."

Medusaismyhero · 19/09/2023 18:31

My MIL got this earlier this year and rang me to say she thought my daughter (her step-granddaughter who calls her by her name) was in financial difficulty and I'd need to help her out 🙈 I got her to send me the screenshot and immediately knew it wasn't my daughter.

But could see why it would catch you out if you had a child of the right age or potentially in a situation where something like this could go wrong (ie just started uni)

Bumply · 19/09/2023 18:33

I got one but knew it wasn't from either of my boys as they don't know my phone number

VisionsOfSplendour · 19/09/2023 18:36

This has got to be the most common scam message I'm surprised thy get anyone to fall for it now I want to get one to play along 😀

OddBoots · 19/09/2023 18:39

HelterSkelter224 · 19/09/2023 17:33

But actually these scams are becoming more sophisticated even using AI to mimic voices E.g. to ask for hostage ransom money over the phone with a "crying" victim. Scary stuff. I listened to a podcast ep about this and the expert suggested setting up a safe word with your loved ones. Sounds a bit extreme but actually these days I dunno... 😬

I heard that podcast too if it was this one https://pca.st/episode/a32f5709-e3d4-4d34-83f1-dcbce4631943 - I don't think I would fall for the text one but my child's voice on the phone would be much more likely to catch me out. I was shocked at how common the 911 call hander said it was, I don't know if it is less common in the UK but still worrying.

The chilling rise of AI scams - Today in Focus

Criminals are cloning voices and making calls to trick victims into sending them money. How can they be stopped?

https://pca.st/episode/a32f5709-e3d4-4d34-83f1-dcbce4631943

FFSWhatToDoNow · 19/09/2023 18:40

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ditalini · 19/09/2023 18:44

I was pathetically excited when I got that message a couple of days ago because I was about the only person I know who hadn't over the last couple of years.

Luckily I wasn't at risk because:

  • I'd heard about it already
  • They used xx at the end of the message which ds would never do
  • He was sitting beside me on the sofa at the time

But yes, good to be warned. They are such shits and they wouldn't do it if noone fell for it.

messybutfun · 19/09/2023 18:49

The AI voice is worrying but there are always some questions you can ask to which only your child/patent would know the answer. And if you pay over any money, only to an account of theirs that you have used before.

I am also surprised how quickly people hand over money. There is absolutely nothing of that amount that needs to be paid out right now. What will happen if you get a new phone first and then pay? Absolutely nothing! Quite frankly if it’s that important, you should have paid it two weeks ago!

HectorPlasm · 19/09/2023 18:50

YouHoooo · 19/09/2023 15:54

My aunt got one too…. The giveaway that it wasn’t my cousin was that it included please and thank you!

Ha! I've always used a similar example about an FD when presenting to clients about whaling attacks!

Baneofmyexistence · 19/09/2023 18:52

I got one of these but obviously wasn’t my kids as they are 7 and 5, don’t have phones and were in bed at the time 😂

Sewaccidentprone · 19/09/2023 18:55

Dh had one of these 3 years ago. About 2 months after dropping ds off at Uni. Seemed plausible, but we didn’t fall for it thank goodness. So this scam has been going a few years now.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 19/09/2023 19:06

If you have any doubts whatsoever, just ask "Is that you, Jack, or is it Emma?" Use any names that aren't your kids' names. The scammer will pick one and prove beyond any doubt whatsoever that it's a scam.

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 19/09/2023 19:09

EatSleepFlyRepeat · 19/09/2023 15:25

I just wanted to warn parents who may have just dropped their young adults off at Uni this week about a potential scam that I just about fell for earlier today… basically I got a text message from a random number saying something along the lines of ‘mum, I’ve smashed my phone, I’ve borrowed a phone from a friend but it’s on low power, can you message me back on my new number xx’ with the new number attached. Naturally I messaged back, in a bit of a panic and worried, and the conversation basically went on to ask for a large sum of money. There were couple of red flags, including some of the language in the message my daughter would never use - and as a EngLit student she is fastidious with her grammar and punctuation, it just didn’t seem like her. I was worried so I FaceTimed her on her usual number and of course she was fine, she hadn’t smashed her phone, and didn’t need any money or have a problem with the bank. I’ve attached screen shots of the text conversation and now blocked both numbers, but it did seem feasible especially as I had just dropped her off at her university over the weekend, posted on FB as many parents do, and I know she is paying out large sums of money for her accommodation etc at the moment - I can’t believe I just about fell for it, and just wanted to warn others who may receive similar messages! I feel like a bit of a fool for just about falling for it, but not as foolish as i would be to have actually fallen for it…

It has been out for a while. I also got this text not long ago unfortunately them i do not have a child so knew this was a scam.

Pluviophile1 · 19/09/2023 19:14

ShadowPuppets · 19/09/2023 17:51

I’ve had these and been really tempted to text back and ask if it’s 3yo DD or 1yo DS 😂

Tempting though it is though, I’ve always been warned not to text back. Once they get a reply they know the number is active so they can sell it on to another scammer as a confirmed active line. If you don’t reply they don’t know the phone number is in use etc. So replying might mean you get more of these and there’s a chance a more sophisticated scammer might actually get you one day.

Not an expert but this is just what I’ve been told…

They would know it's an active number when they see it's been received/read surely?

bemorebernard · 19/09/2023 19:15

My friends dad almost fell for this too after he got a message pertaining to be from my friend , similar MO

I reported it to actionfraud on his behalf

If anyone gets a message like this report it online to,action fraud with the number

TheHappinessEnigma · 19/09/2023 19:24

Bumply · 19/09/2023 18:33

I got one but knew it wasn't from either of my boys as they don't know my phone number

??

Oldthyme · 19/09/2023 19:24

EarringsandLipstick · 19/09/2023 15:38

This is a really well-known, long-running scam. It's not new.

The key point is to make direct contact first, as you did.

This^
I recd something similar last year so rang my son in law on his phone to discuss. Load of nonsense! My kid was fine, no phone issue.

I responded to scammer to say “eff off scammer” and blocked the number.

ambitchious · 19/09/2023 19:30

TheBarbieEffect · 19/09/2023 17:45

I have no idea how anyone can fall for this. Apart from it being a long running scam, surely it’s just really obvious?!

This. Using an AI mimic voice maybe, because that is fairly new (but not for long). Come up with a safe word.

And do watch this. It’s an add, but oh so very important. All parents should watch it.

Don't share your kids personal information - Without Consent - Deutsche Telekom Deepfake AI Ad

#Affiliate Earn your cryptocurrency https://faucetcrypto.com/ref/308842Brand: Deutsche TelekomAgency: DDB GermanyYear: 2023Country: 🇩🇪

https://youtu.be/-r_2a064dWY?si=It6l5j0d-xmAVEdC

Cosycardigans · 19/09/2023 19:34

There was a good thread on here about a year or so ago where the mumsnetter strung the scammer along for ages. Does anyone know where it is?

HelterSkelter224 · 19/09/2023 19:37

@OddBoots yes it was that one - some really scary stuff. I had the same thought in that I was surprised how common they said it was but it's only going to become more popular the same way people here are saying how well known this scam is.

Itick8outof10boxes · 19/09/2023 20:18

Heck knows what these scammers think when they phone me. It's the running joke that I always do weird voices [horror type, you get the jest], when I answer because It's usually one of my dc. Scam types put the phone down pretty darn quick. 😆

StoneTheCrone · 19/09/2023 20:24

That video is really powerful.

A lot of my friends post videos of everything their children do on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and I often think about the dangers involved in years to come when AI tools are everywhere.

ambitchious · 19/09/2023 20:26

StoneTheCrone · 19/09/2023 20:24

That video is really powerful.

A lot of my friends post videos of everything their children do on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and I often think about the dangers involved in years to come when AI tools are everywhere.

It is. Three seconds of someone’s voice is enough to mimic it.
All those short Tik Tok clips that China owns..

Bumply · 19/09/2023 23:19

@TheHappinessEnigma - if one of my sons had truly lost their phone they wouldn't be able to text me as they wouldn't know from memory what my number was