New Scam

[Dee Sa]

an elderly friend received an SMS today supposedly from her son to say he had had an accident and was in ICU and not allowed his phone so the nurse had used her phone and would she ring back on 447973929987 to get details. Luckily the lady phoned her son at work and he was okay, then half hour later she got another SMS from her "son" to say ring back before he went down for surgery. there are some rotten people about who sit & think up these scams instead of getting off their backsides and getting a real job.

[Mamyalynne]

Awful things some do, yes it is a trap to try to extort money - wise friend you have.

[askyourgran]

I can't believe people would stoop so low, there are some really rotten scum out there. I hope the Police catch up with them.

[Peter Pedant]

this is the SMS equiv of the scam where you get an email from someone you know but whose account has been hacked -saying I have been robbed in Thailand and need money ...

luckily the email started Dear Pedant.... so I kinda knew something was awry

[vulcan42]

Yes, thank goodness some of these scammers are let down by their own stupidity.I regularly get one starting dear friend, just recently they've been putting Friend dear.

[zebo]

We have agreed phrases to use in any "emergency" messages to indicate they're valid. Touch wood they've never had to be used but they're there.

[Georgiesmum]

Great idea Zebo. Well done, smart thinking!

[pixie373]

What an awful thing to do!

[netibiza]

How awful, this is why my daughter and I always have a password that she would include in all and any urgent communications, but have never had to use it yet.

[Tilly2]

Isn't it sad that we are having to come up with passwords and codes in order to verify a text message?

[albaqwerty]

I wonder how theses scammers get a hold of your mobile number.

No doubt they must put a lot of effort into hacking or some other dodgy thing.

[Graham-W]

If it's a scam, it's not a very good one. Dialing the number, you get as far as the first "3" before a voice announces, " This number has not been recognised."
Are you sure you got the right number Dee Sa?

[Tilly2]

That's a good question, Alba. How do they get hold of your mobile number. Is it just random?