Fake text messages targeting parents

[Chippy_Tea]

Fraudsters are sending out distressing messages to parents in the hope that they will reply and send mobile phone top-up voucher codes.

Victims initially receive a text message from a loved-one which says they are in hospital and that the only way that they can make contact is via text message.

One example message reads: “Mum i did try and phone from some else phone signal is really bad, there has been a terrible car accident. I’m in the ICU ward in hospital my phone ain’t switching on and needs charging. I’m on this mobile number please make sure you reply to this number, my friend didn’t make it he died before we got to hospital and his sister’s fighting for her life. Mum i had my seatbelt on, i’ve got a head injury but i’m ok. Going into Xray to be seen, please make sure you message me back and don’t phone cause mobile phones aren’t allowed here so please text in case I’m in there. I will go outside and phone you mum its really bad i need you to do me favour before it’s too late, as soon as you get my text please reply by text i need you to do me a favour mum, time is running out and i need you to do something mum”.

After responding to the message, the fraudsters ask victims to purchase a mobile phone top-up code and text it back to them. Once the fraudsters have the code, they can get the cash credited to their own mobile phone account.

Variations of the scam

There are variations of the scam which include shorter versions of the text messages being spammed out by fraudsters, like this one below from a user on Twitter.

 

[ElChemist]

Anyone daft enough to fall for that needs to be fleeced for money.... I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

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[Chippy_Tea]

Anyone daft enough to fall for that needs to be fleeced for money.

Unfortunately that is the type of person they prey on and there are people that will fall for it, how often do you read about con men fleecing old people out of their savings, they prey on the vulnerable and rely on the fact the person they text will be so worried they may not be thinking straight..

I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

Me, why carry on paying far more than you need to once the original contract has finished? i used to pay £30 a month and now pay £10 and get more minutes, data and texts than i ever use.

 

[MickDundee]

Anyone daft enough to fall for that needs to be fleeced for money.... I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

I'm pretty sure the majority of teenagers are PAYG, and I'm assuming the scam is mainly aimed at the parents of 15/16/17 year olds.

I was a good kid, but I reckon I couldn't have been trusted with a contract phone back then!

 

[ElChemist]

Most kids these days do SIM only, not PAYG. Gets you a better deal than contract and PAYG. Mainly cos they change their phone more often than their underwear...

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[Cwrw666]

Anyone daft enough to fall for that needs to be fleeced for money.... I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

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I do. I've had it 2 and a half years now and so far it's eaten it's way through twenty quid...:lol:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I do. I've had it 2 and a half years now and so far it's eaten it's way through twenty quid..

:clap:


................

 

[MyQul]

I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

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Me too. Tescum mobile is very generous giving free minutes

 

[BeerisGOD]

I use pay as go as I don't have any friends so it suits me fine. until I needed vocal beer advise that is, but I think now after forum/youtube research ive finally nailed it.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

BiG fancy a new avatar? :lol:

 

[Dutto]

Anyone daft enough to fall for that needs to be fleeced for money.... I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

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Er .... ME!

I like the fact that I pay in small increments of £10 ... :thumb:

... and I positively love the fact that anyone (including SWMBO) using the phone will get cut off if they exceed that amount of money! :lol:

 

[Dutto]

On the "scam" side of life I once got a text that allegedly came from a friend who was in hospital in Hungary and penniless after being assaulted and robbed.

What got me laughing at this ludicrous text was the fact that my mate is an American multi-millionaire who knows dozens of people much better off than I am; and who would almost certainly have activated the American Embassy in Budapest if it had really happened.

But I did text his wife just to check that he was still at home! I mean, you never know do you? :whistle::whistle:

 

[Robin54]

Anyone daft enough to fall for that needs to be fleeced for money.... I mean, who has a PAYG phone anymore?

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eeerrr I do and its great

 

[ElChemist]

Thanks for making my point for me. It's only the *ahem* much more mature and extremely tight or utterly phone phobic who use PAYG phones.

There is always someone who won't think logically if one of these is received, but I'm not so sure it'd be anyone on this forum... Most people are logical and level headed on here... Most...

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[Chippy_Tea]

I have a Vodafone smart ultra 6 a brilliant smart phone, I use it to run the forum on 4G when not at home, for £15 I get 250 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB UK 4G data, that is more than I ever use, they do a £10 and £20 version to suit most people's needs.

 

[Dutto]

..... Most people are logical and level headed on here... Most...
.......

I hope you are NOT referring to me!!

Logical and level headed? Better not tell SWMBO who thinks I'm a total nutter every time I spend money on brewing stuff.

I'm just a natural "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves." kind of guy! :lol: :lol:

 

[ElChemist]

I was thinking more fiscally prudent and shorter than pocket depth arms when thinking about you Dutto! Lol

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