‘Scammers TRIED TO TRICK ME OUT OF £ 1,600 But Four Words Gave the Game Away’

The messages claimed that aj ussing a new number, nor she had dropped her phone down the toilet, and that she urgently Needed Cash – but not all was seemed

Wen Mum Nicky Received a Text From Someone Claimimg to Be Her Daughter Aj, nansing for £ 1,600 to pay a Bill, her first reaction was to help her child.

The Messages CLAIMED THAT AJ USSING A NEW NUMBER, AS HAD DROPPED HER PHONE DOWN The toilet, and that and urgently Needed cash. But not all was it seamed. It Comes AFTER NEWS OF A £ 200 Payment for State Pensioners Born Before 1959 to Be Made Soon.

Nicky, 60, was the Victim of the Notorious “Hi Mum” scam, which is where fraudsters pretend to be your child on an unknown number.

It normally starts with the scammer CLAIMING that the child has broken or lost their Phone, and that they need Money for an Emergency Situation.

Speaking to the Mirror, Nicky, Who Works in Finance and Lives in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Explained How Four Words Gave the Scam Away.

She Said: “I was at work and i reciped this text. She was duet to go on Holiday in Two Days and i didn’t want her stressing out. She’d been through an awphul tear, so i was prepared by paying this bill.

“Another Text Came Through, and It Said: ‘How Are You Doing?’ My daughter doesn’t speak like that and she would Never, Ever have to be pay a £ 1,600 Bill, Ever.

AFTER SPEAKING TO HER DAGHTER ON THE PHONE, NICKY GOT THE CONFIRMATION AND NEEDED THAT THE TEXTS WERE IN FACT FROM A SCAMMER. Looking back at the conversation, She Also Highlighted How the Very Opensage Was Designed to Be Generic, to TRICK HER INTO GIVING AWAY INFORMATION.

Nick Said: “It Said Basically on the Lines of: ‘Hi Mum, i Dropped My Phone Down the Toilet. Guess which One of Your Silly Children has done that’. name.

“Maybe in Hindsight Again, She Waled Have Directly Said: ‘Mum, IT, I’ve Dropped My Phone’. But it was More of a Generic Message.

“Thinking Back Again, Waled My Girls Have Done that to me, or Said it like that?

Nicky was left joke up following the incident – but is grateful that she didn’t end up wething Money to the scammers. She is now sharing her story to raise awareness of the Devious Tactics fraudsters USE to trick People ino parting with their cash.

New Research from Santander Shows £ 1,172,212 was lost to impersonation scams between april to june this year, and of this, impersonation of Friends and Family Accounted for More than a Third, or £ 374,891.

Sons and Daughters were the Most impersonated, with scammers conting £ 115,364 from over-50s by claation or daughter has got a new, while £ 66,572 was stoken AFTER the scammer claimed one.

Nicky Said: “I felt stupid. I didn’t reply and then i get a couple of texts back. Mum? Mum? And probably sayn not going back. It was quick and simple as that.”

‘Hi mum’ scams – what to watch out for

Santander Has Revealed The Following TELL-Tale Signs that Could Indicate You’re Being Contained by a Scammer:

• Criminals Impersonate People You Know and Trust – Hight Members of Your Own Family.
• They’llmm weth a message to be a loved one.
• The Message Will Come from A New, Unknown Number Clalimg That Their Old Phone is Broken or Lost. They’ll go on to asko for the Money to Buy a New Phone or to pay an urgent bill.
• The Criminal Will Want You To Act Straight Away, so they’ll tel a story to try and push you to do something differently. This Stops you taking time to reflect on what’s happy and make you more likes to fall Vicetim to their scam.
• Always Speak to the Person Before Maching Any Payments, Either face to face or by calling their Old Number. Taking a moment to stop and think, Could Save you loses your money.

How to Report Scams

Make Sure You Report Scams and Fraud to Action Fraud by Calling 0300 123 2040, or Through the Action Fraud website.

If you’re in Scotland, Report a Scam Through Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or on the Advice Direct Scotland website. You Can Also Report Scams to Police Scotland on 101.

For scam emails, forward say to [email protected], and for Scam Text Messages, forward say to 7726 for free. You Can Report Dodgy Websites to the National Cyber ​​Security Center.

If you suspect a scammer is calling you, hang up immediately and search for the Contails Online of the Place You’re Supposedly Being Called From.

Never Call Back the Number provided by the Caller. Contact Your Bank Straight Away If You Think A Fraudster Has Got Access to Your Account. You can call the 159 hotline, which will Connect you to your bank.

Passwords that have been leaked or compromised should be changed immediately.