It’s an everyday scene. It’s prime time for TV and you’re sitting comfortably in your favorite chair. Suddenly, your phone alerts you to a new text. You pick it up and it’s a text from an unknown number that says, "Hi Mom, I lost my phone. Text me back at this number.” You’re perplexed. What do you do? Well, you stop right there. Why? That message probably isn’t from your kid. It’s part of a sneaky scam that’s been making the rounds for a while, and unfortunately, it’s still working.
A common one goes like this: “Hi mom my phone broke. Can you text me back please on this number +1XXXXXXXXX.” Of course, it could work with "dad" as well.
Here’s how it plays out: Scammers send out messages pretending to be a child who’s lost their phone and now needs help. Of course, it’s usually money they want. Once you text them back, they start the ruse. It could be any number of wants, but they try to tug at your heartstrings, ask for urgent help paying a bill or buying a new phone, and then provide payment details that go straight into the scammer’s pocket. And by the time you figure it out? They’re long gone.
So how do you protect yourself?
Tip #1: Don’t respond right away. Call or text your child’s real number first—even if you think it's possible that the phone truly is lost.
Tip #2: Never send money or gift cards without independently verifying who you’re really talking to. Don’t use a phone provided in a text or email unless you are 100% sure it’s legit. Frankly, if they’re asking for gift cards or crypto, it’s most likely some type of scam.
Tip #3: Talk with your family now. Set up a “code word” you can use in case of real emergencies. This is also helpful for those ever-growing AI scams.
There are variations on the text wording, but it is usually all a similar message including a lost phone. It might also arrive via another text app, such as WhatsApp. Bottom line: Scammers count on urgency and panic. Stay calm, verify everything, and don’t let a fake message break your bank—or your heart.
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