We’ve been scammed!

??

I just warned my daughter about this. She said she's already had it. Hers said 'Hi mom. I'm stuck. I've lost my phone and have to use this old one. I need to pay (whatever) and can't access it on this phone. Can you do it please?'. She only has one child who was in the room with her at the time.

Everyone please check their settings to make sure they're not inadvertently making their number known to random others if in shared groups. Lots of WhatsApp groups set up re Covid or school or hobby clubs etc

one of these on the scam thread on couple of weeks ago, 4th oct.

maddyone

I wish I knew Cleo.

Did they log in to your daughter’s WhatsApp to message you? If so then she needs to change her passwords immediately. I don’t use WhatsApp, I don’t like that your ‘phone number is visible to all users, not just your contacts.

Thank you for letting us know.

CleoPanda

How did they get into What’s App?

I once said to my son that WhatsApp was secure, and he laughed and said dont count on it!

Thank you maddyone for telling us.
Some posters have run the gauntlet of ridicule for posting similar in the past.
Any of us could fall for a scam, given the right circumstances.

I'm glad the bank are helping out.

The family code is a great idea.
When I was young we 'lived above the shop' as my Dad was a GP. The doorbell would go all day invariably patients however, we had a coded number of rings to alert us if it was family or friends at the door.

Sorry about the multiple posts.
I thought it hadn't posted at all, then three came along at once.

I'm told that Signal is more secure than WhatsApp.

I'm told that Signal is more secure than WhatsApp.

I'm told that Signal is more secure than WhatsApp.

So glad your bank are dealing with it and thank you for the warning. Must have been a huge shock but well done for contacting your daughter promptly.

The last thing you need Maddy thankyou for the warning and I’m pleased your bank are being responsive.

EMMF1948your family code is a very good idea.

Niobe I think that’s the one. I was asked if I could do her a favour. Exactly that. Mind you when I got the new number I foolishly asked is this C….. and of course got the affirmative. I asked if the money was for the rent and got the affirmative. So if you get this type of request don’t give away any of your family member’s details. Make sure you get that information from them but speak to your family member before you transfer any money. I feel very foolish over this.

Oh Maddyone how awful for you, please don't feel stupid, these scams are very sophisticated and play on people's good nature. The very same scam was on BBC yesterday morning, a woman had received a message exactly the same as yours news phone/no phone banking available for 24 hours/rent payment needed. Thank you for warning everyone, and hopefully your bank will refund you. Like most people, I always considered WhatsApp to be the safest of the SM

Thank you do much for the warning. Like you we and many other parents respond to our adult children when they need support. Well done for making this public , so happy for you that your bank and the police are investigating this. We all think we would not fall for this - it just goes to show anyone is likely to fall victim .

Sorry to hear this and thank you for the warning. Whatever next!

I got an email from someone purporting to be my late brother’s friend in Canada asking if we were ok and could we do him a favour. No details given. Presumably I was meant to say “Of course and what do you want me to do…..” A request for money would probably have followed. However the email was signed as being from Dr X Y which the real person would never do! So I ignored it.

I wish I knew Cleo.

How did they get into What’s App?

Thank you so much ladies, I do hope this thread doesn’t drop down too quickly as I really want everyone to see it. We are pretty savvy normally re scams, but this one fooled us. The trouble is that as normal, loving parents, like you all are, we always respond quickly to any emergencies that arise with our three. We always have done, but now we would be very cautious re giving/lending money. A request from our son who works long hours which might ask if Dad’s got time this week could he pop over and mow the lawn, which my husband will always respond to, is very different than a request for money. We have lent and given them money in the past and stupidly we responded to this without doing the proper checks. Our daughter said she will never ask for money like that in a text, if she had a real need she would speak to us. I just want all our loving parents and grandparents to know about this and not fall into the trap.

How upsetting for you Maddyone. I am glad it is being resolved. Thanks for the warning. I could have fallen for that scam too.

When we have family travelling, or living overseas in this instance, we have a code phrase, if that phrase isn't in the message we would treat it as scam until we know otherwise,